Kosovan online media has been reporting that six Turkish nationals who have legal residence and/or working permit in the country have been detained by Kosovan police on demands of the Turkish regime and that the operations are continuing on against other Turkish nationals alleged to be affiliated with the Gulen Movement. According to pro government media 6 people arrested by the intelligence service of Turkey and brought to Turkey by a private jet. Sources from the UN apparatus in the country suggested that the list of to-be-detained Turkish nationals living in Kosovo includes 200 names. Lawyers of the teachers have complained to the local media that they are not being informed about the whereabouts of their clients.
The six Turkish nationals detained up until now are, Mr. Mustafa Erdem, general director of Mehmet Akif College run by Turkish businesspeople in Kosovo, Mr. Yusuf Karabina, deputy director of the same school, Mr. Kahraman Demirez, director of the Djakovica branch of the school, Mr. Cihan Ozkan, a biology teacher, Mr. Hasan Huseyin Gunakan a chemistry teacher from the same school and Prof. Osman Karakaya, a Turkish medical doctor apparently staying in the country as a tourist. The detention came a month after a February visit by Deputy Minister of Justice of Turkey Mr. Bilal Ucar complaining about the schools run in this country by the alleged Gulenists. Kosova had previously detained another Turkish national Mr. Ugur Toksoy on alleged grounds of involvement with Gulen Movement but a Kosovan court suspended the extradition process due to lack of material evidence. The fact that the detentions came on the day of Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim’s visit to the Balkans is also troubling. Turkish nationals with alleged links to the Gulen Movement had occasionally been detained and subjected to lengthy interrogations in order to ease the pressure of the Turkish politicians during their trips to friendly countries.
For more detailed information about these risks supporters of the Gulen Movement experience, please look at the report prepared by the Advocates of Silenced Turkey on the current and possible threats supporters of the Gulen Movement face abroad titled “I Cannot Say We Are Absolutely Safe Even Abroad.”
Download the report as pdf: AST_Report_Threats_Gulen Movement
Download sample statement as a word document:
AST_Letter_Kosovo_Detention
We urge everyone to take action. Express your views or send attached statement to following relevant individuals and organizations: AST_Letter_Kosovo_Detention[UPDATED]
1) President of the Republic of Kosovo
Office of The President Building of the Parlament of Kosova Mother Theresa street 10 000 Prishtina, Kosova
2) Cabinet members:
Florentina Baraku
Senior Executive Officer
Phone: +381 (38) 200-12503
Email: [email protected]
Hana Bajrami-Rexhepi
Senior Executive Officer
Phone: +381 (38) 200-12015
Email: [email protected]
Arlinda Ramadani Selimi
Senior Executive Officer
Phone: +381 (38) 200-12054
Email: [email protected]
Protocol:
Phone: + 381 (38) 211 650 ext. (200)12 503; 12 002
Fax: 038 211 651
Email: [email protected]
Department of Communication:
Phone: +381 38 212 460
Office: C- 405- A
Email: [email protected]
3) The European Court of Human Rights
Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg cedex
Phone: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 18
Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 30
Mr. Günter SCHIRMER
Head of the Secretariat
Phone: +33/3 88.41.2809
[email protected]
Mme Aurélie HAUG
Assistant
Phone: 33/3 90.21.5229
[email protected]
4) U.S. Department of State
Email: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform
Phone: (202) 647-6575
Twitter: @StateDept
Website: https://www.state.gov/
5) United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+41) 22 917 9656
Twitter: @UN_HRC
Website: www.ohchr.org/hrc
6) Human Rights Watch
Twitter: @hrw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumanRightsWatch
NY Address:350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
Tel: +1-212-290-4700
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
Emma Daly, Communications Director
Tel: +1-212-216-1835
Fax: +1-212-736-1300
7) Human Rights Foundation
Twitter: @HRF
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humanrightsfoundation/
New York Address:350 5th Ave., #4515 New York, NY, 10001
Phone Number: (212) 246-8486
8) Freedom House
Twitter: @FreedomHouseDC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomHouseDC
[email protected]
Phone: 202-296-5101
Fax: 202-293-2840
Annie Boyajian, Advocacy Manager
[email protected]
9) Amnesty International
Twitter: @amnestyusa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amnestyusa
[email protected]
10) International Federation for Houman Rights
Twitter: @fidh_en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIDH.HumanRights
FIDH AT THE UN (NEW-YORK)
110 East 42nd street, Suite 1309 NY 10017 New-York
Phone Number: 001 646 395 7103
11) International Court of Justice
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+31) 70 302 23 23
Fax: (+31) 70 364 99 28
Twitter: @CIJ_ICJ
Website: http://www.icj-cij.org/en
NEWS ARTICLES ON THIS SUBJECT:
(ENGLISH) “Erdogan slams Kosovo PM over sackings after Gulen-linked deportations”
http://www.euronews.com/2018/03/31/erdogan-attacks-kosovo-prime-minister-for-sacking-officials-who-sanctioned-teacher-kidnap
(EGNLISH) “Kosovo PM sacks security chief, interior minister over Turkish arrests”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-kosovo/kosovo-pm-sacks-security-chief-interior-minister-over-turkish-arrests-idUSKBN1H60SC
(ENGLISH) “Kosovo investigates seizure of Turkish nationals”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-security-turkey/kosovo-investigates-seizure-of-turkish-nationals-idUSKBN1H70CC
(ENGLISH) “How Ankara’s long arms caught 6 alleged Gülenists in Kosovo”
https://ahvalnews.com/kosova-gulenists/how-ankaras-long-arms-caught-6-alleged-gulenists-kosovo
(EGNLISH) “Kosovo investigates seizure of Turkish nationals”
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-kosovo-security-turkey/kosovo-investigates-seizure-of-turkish-nationals-idUKKBN1H70C8
(ENGLISH) “Kosovo security chiefs sacked after six Turks deported”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43596926
(ENGLISH) “Kosovo arrests 6 Turks linked to Erdogan opponent”
https://wtop.com/europe/2018/03/kosovo-arrests-5-turks-linked-to-opponent-of-erdogan/
(ENGLISH) “Kosovo arrests 5 Turks linked to opponent of Erdogan”
http://www.unb.com.bd/world-news/Kosovo-arrests-5-Turks-linked-to-opponent-of-Erdogan/66820
(ENGLISH) “Six Turks arrested in Kosovo over Gulen links extradited to Turkey: Anadolu”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-kosovo/six-turks-arrested-in-kosovo-over-gulen-links-extradited-to-turkey-anadolu-idUSKBN1H51JL
(ENGLISH) “Six Turks Arrested in Kosovo Over Gulen Links Extradited to Turkey: Anadolu”
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-03-29/kosovo-arrests-six-turks-over-links-to-gulen-schools-police
(ENGLISH) “[BREAKING] Tens of students march to Pristina airport after finding out Gulen educators not yet deported”
https://turkeypurge.com/breaking-tens-students-march-pristina-airport-finding-gulen-educators-not-yet-deported
(ENGLISH) “Kosovo Arrests Five Turkish School Employees”
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-arrests-directors-of-turkish-school-03-29-2018
(ENGLISH) “Prime Minister of Kosovo says not informed about deportation of Gülenist educators to Turkey”
https://turkeypurge.com/prime-minister-kosovo-says-not-informed-deportation-gulenist-educators-turkey
(ENGLISH) “Kosovan PM’s authority in doubt amid claims state intelligence arrested Turks without his knowledge”
http://www.euronews.com/2018/03/29/kosovan-pm-s-authority-in-doubt-amid-claims-state-intelligence-arrested-turks-without-his-
(TURKISH) “Sınır dışı edilen Türklerle ilgili konuşan Kosova Cumhurbaşkanı: Kurumlarımız insan haklarını hiçe saydı”
http://tr.euronews.com/2018/03/29/kosova-basbakani-turklerin-kacirilmalari-bilgisi-bana-verilmedi
(TURKISH) “Kosova’da Gülen operasyonu ile ilgili soruşturma”
https://ahvalnews2.com/tr/kosova-gulenciler-krizi/kosovada-gulen-operasyonu-ile-ilgili-sorusturma#undefined.uxfs
(ALBANIAN) “Komisioni për Mbikëqyrjen e AKI-së paralajmëron shkarkimin e drejtorit Driton Gashi!”
http://zeri.info/aktuale/192798/komisioni-per-mbikeqyrjen-e-aki-se-paralajmeron-shkarkimin-e-drejtorit-driton-gashi/
(ALBANIAN) “Kryeministri thotë se gylenistët u arrestuan për shkak të lejeve të qëndrimit”
http://m.gazetaexpress.com/lajme/kryeministri-thote-se-gylenistet-u-arrestuan-per-shkak-te-lejeve-te-qendrimit-517719/
(ALBANIAN) “Shkolla e Gylenit: Të arrestuarit ende s’janë deportuar në Turqi, ja pasojat e ekstradimit të tyre”
http://www.botasot.info/kosova/861536/shkolla-e-gylenit-te-arrestuarit-ende-s-jane-deportuar-ne-turqi-ja-pasojat-e-ekstradimit-te-tyre/
(FRENCH) “Les espions turcs “rapatrient” 6 partisans présumés de Gülen arrêtés au Kosovo”
https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1107760/les-espions-turcs-rapatrient-6-partisans-presumes-de-gulen-arretes-au-kosovo.html
(GERMAN) “Türkische Geheimdienstoperation: Sind Verhaftete Gülen-Anhänger noch im Kosovo?”
https://dtj-online.de/tuerkische-geheimdienstoperation-sind-verhaftete-guelen-anhaenger-noch-im-kosovo-95954
FACEBOOK POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2070981902917886&id=112615142087915
TWEETS ON THIS SUBJECT:
Turkey Pres Erdogan to Kosovo PM: How dare you worry about things like due process before extradition or not sending people to my torturers when the six victims are people whom I say without any public evidence plotted the coup against me. https://t.co/ezDm6leJsP pic.twitter.com/IlIFtnKxQY
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) April 1, 2018
[VIDEO] Kosovo PM visits wives of Turkish teachers over "secret deportations" || https://t.co/n9BZmYa5YC pic.twitter.com/feyGzpd07D
— Turkey Purge (@TurkeyPurge) April 1, 2018
No comment. But : #KosovoStopExtradition https://t.co/0nc19yjdMl
— Rebecca Harms (@RebHarms) March 31, 2018
YENİ ETİKET BU!
Lütfen tüm twitlerde bunu kullanalım#StopKosovoExtradition6 Türk eğitimciyi almak için Kosova’ya gelen özel uçağın görüntüleri ortaya çıktı. Ancak uçağa bindirilme görüntüleri yok!
— Hasan Cücük (@HasanCucuk) March 31, 2018
Erdogan is angry that the Kosovo PM @haradinajramush exercised his constitutional authority to sack his Interior Minister & intelligence chief for cooperating in the abduction of six Turkish nationals by TR's spy agency. He says PM Haradinaj will be brought to account for this! pic.twitter.com/HEFegnUsQr
— M Behzad Fatmi (@BehzadFatmi) March 31, 2018
URGENT!
From a trustworthy source from 'Gulistan' Education Institution we are informed that the 6 Turkish citizens have been seen in the "Old Building" at the 'Cargo' of the Prishtina Airport at 19.00. We urgently ask from Kosovo authorities to take action.— Leutrim (@leutrim_syla) March 30, 2018
*Claim* I'm hearing is Kosovo detainees are being taken to airport right now for their actual transfer to Turkey.
Kosovo authorities should prevent them from being taken from Kosovo territory.
— Nate Schenkkan (@nateschenkkan) March 30, 2018
Pretty much everyone in Kosovo is convinced they're still there, but both governments insist they've been deported to Turkey. https://t.co/RXQX80N99y
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) March 30, 2018
HRF has sent an urgent letter to the Prime Minister of @MFAKosovo calling on his gov't to stop acting as proxy of authoritarian president @RT_Erdogan and to free six wrongfully imprisoned Turkish nationals, in application of international law's non-refoulement principle. pic.twitter.com/aI9PWsH9HM
— HRF (@HRF) March 30, 2018
Urgent action required! Human Rights violatins happening now in Kosovo. pic.twitter.com/el5nS3WZv6
— Leutrim (@leutrim_syla) March 29, 2018
Closely following yesterday’s events. Transparency and commitment to due process and the rule of law are vital.
— Ambassador Philip S. Kosnett (@USAmbKosovo) March 30, 2018
I have a question for #Kosovo leaders @HashimThaciRKS @haradinajramush . What if Germany or Switzerland during the 1990 had set your extradition to the Milosevic regime? How many of you asked shelter in EU resisting autocracy of that time?
— AlonBenMeir (@AlonBenMeir) March 29, 2018
Statement from detained Turkish national in Kosovo Cihan Özkan's lawyer Leutrim Syla. pic.twitter.com/43VZzEG8Ae
— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) March 29, 2018
'Our teachers were arrested and dragged away in front of the students. They were abducted and we don't know where they are. It was a brutal act asked for by a dictator. We demand their immediate release' – Bujar Muzhaqi of Gulenist Schools in #Kosovo
— Xhemajl Rexha (@xhemajl_rexha) March 29, 2018
‘Kaçırılan 5 öğretmen ve 1 doktor hala Kosova’da tutuluyor’
AA'nın geçtiği resimler Türkiye'de değil, Türk Konsolosluğunda çekildihttps://t.co/7U5JlCRhdQ pic.twitter.com/JiG8CcMX7B
— Tr724 (@tr724com) March 29, 2018
Hearing that the Turkish nationals still on the ground in Kosovo. They should not be deported to Turkey. There is a legal process to ensure any extradition complies with the law, and it should be followed. https://t.co/lsOe8B0fYv
— Nate Schenkkan (@nateschenkkan) March 29, 2018
For the record, there has been an enormous reaction by #Kosovo journalists, MPs, activists and society in general against deporting #Turkish citizens thus abiding Erdogan orders.
— Xhemajl Rexha (@xhemajl_rexha) March 29, 2018
#Kosovo PM Haradinaj is seen here e few minutes ago leaving the office of President Thaçi for a crisis meeting after the arrest of Turkish citizens. Foreign Minister Pacolli was there as well. pic.twitter.com/HoGJSRM8i5
— Xhemajl Rexha (@xhemajl_rexha) March 29, 2018
Our #Declaration on Recent Abduction Cases of Turkish Citizens in #Kosovo
In light of today’s abduction cases of 6 Turkish citizens (5 teachers& 1 doctor) & their illegal deportn to #Turkey from Kosovo, we as “#Others” would like to bring a few recent cases to public attention. pic.twitter.com/PpKSjrXIYO— Others (@OthersInfo) March 29, 2018
"We have been facing enormous pressure from the Turkish authorities in the past weeks to take actions against Gulen schools and their staff," a Kosovo government senior official told Reuters https://t.co/dHLJpgpwID
— Zia Weise (@ZiaWeise) March 29, 2018
Yesterday Kosovo arrested 6 Turkish citizens, revoked their residency permits, citing 'national security'
Kosovo should promptly investigate conditions of their arrests and current whereabouts. Extraditions without due process to #Turkey where they risk torture would be illegal.— Todor Gardos (@TodorGardos) March 30, 2018
VIDEOS ON THIS SUBJECT:
(ALBANIAN) “SHTETI I KOSOVËS NË SHËRBIM TË ERDOGANIT”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_tjkBvSpN4&app=desktop
STATEMENT BY LAWYER:
PHOTOS ON THIS SUBJECT:
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