The arrest of Orhan Artar, an internationally protected asylum seeker, highlights the growing trend of international repression practiced by Turkish leaders.
President Erdoğan has constructed a sophisticated apparatus of repression, reaching from domestic institutions to international arenas. This machinery has been activated at several pivotal moments: the Gezi Park protests, which revealed deep public discontent; the 2013 corruption probes, which threatened Erdoğan’s inner circle and were linked to Gülenist-aligned prosecutors; and the failed 2016 coup, widely seen by the government as the culmination of Gülenist infiltration. While Ankara blames the Gülen movement for the attempted coup, international observers have consistently dismissed this claim as politically motivated and unsubstantiated. Once allies, the movement and the ruling party are now fierce adversaries; the former has been designated a terrorist organisation by the Turkish state. Its alleged members have faced sweeping purges, arbitrary arrests, and extraterritorial targeting. The recent illegal deportation of Orhan Artar and his three children from Rwanda to Turkey illustrates the reach of this repression. Upon return, Mr. Artar was detained on suspicion of Gülenist ties, while his children were reportedly placed with relatives.
Who is Orhan Artar?
Orhan Artar is a father, husband, and educator.
In the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt attributed to the Gülen movement, Turkish pressure prompted Pakistani officials to order the expulsion of 108 Turkish families. Among those affected was Orhan Artar, who, at the time, worked within a network of schools in Pakistan linked to the movement—an affiliation that drew official scrutiny. In response, the Artar family briefly went into hiding before registering for asylum with the UNHCR in Islamabad in 2017. This application was accepted which meant that: Orhan and his family could not be legally returned to a country where their safety and liberty would be threatened.
Despite the official protection offered, the family continued to feel unsafe in Pakistan as compatriots who had received similar legal protections were repatriated to Turkey. In 2018, Mr. Artar was charged in absentia in Turkey with an arrest warrant issued. The family sought refuge in Kenya where they remained until 2023. Here, the family parted ways as Mr. Artar did not have a valid passport; his wife and child went to claim asylum in Germany while he planned to meet them with the other three children later. Further complicating the issue, Mr. Artar’s wife eventually had her asylum claim rejected in May 2024. In spite of these difficulties, Mr. Artar planned to meet his wife and child in Germany, via Rwanda, this month. After travelling through Tanzania, Mr. Artar planned to fly to Belgium before finally reuniting with his family. Instead, Mr. Artar and his children were forcibly detained by Rwandan officials and forcibly deported to Turkey – where he currently awaits trial.
International Law
Seeking asylum is an inalienable human right protected under customary international law, human rights law, and treaty law. The principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face persecution, is enshrined in international law through the 1951 Refugee Convention. Both Rwanda and Turkey are signatories to the Convention meaning that both Mr. Artar and his family should enjoy these protections. In deporting the Artar family, Rwanda is in contravention of international law. Furthermore, if Turkey’s actions result in persecution or torture, it too risks breaching its obligations under both refugee and human rights law.
Turkish Repression
Transnational repression has become a systematic weapon wielded against Turkish dissidents based abroad. The Artar case is far from unique: over 100 Turkish nationals based abroad have been forcibly returned since 2016. Turkish authorities level diplomatic demands of repatriation of citizens abroad, with varying degrees of success. For example, while Sweden has steadfastly refused to comply with these demands, other states have proven much more open to accede. Pakistan, Rwanda, and Kenya have facilitated the repatriation orders in violation of international law.
Extrajudicial kidnappings are another tool of the Turkish National Intelligence Organisation (MIT). Freedom House has reported that security forces brazenly carried out such an operation in Azerbaijan against Turkish businessman Uğur Demirok. Tajikistan has seen similar disappearances of at least two Turkish citizens who have since reappeared in Turkish prisons.
Broken Chalk
Broken Chalk stands with the international community in decrying the rise in transnational authoritarianism coming from Turkey. Orhan Artar is a symptom of the growing disdain exhibited by states towards international law. To stem the erosion of the international legal system, supranational organisations, states, and other stakeholders must address the rising tide of authoritarianism. Below are our demands to address the ongoing situation:
- Broken Chalk calls for the immediate release of Orhan Artar following his illegal repatriation and arbitrary detention.
His continued imprisonment contravenes international refugee protections and the principle of non-refoulement. Turkey must release Mr. Artar and drop all charges linked to peaceful association or political affiliation. - We call for an independent international investigation into the actions of both Rwandan and Turkish authorities.
This investigation should examine the circumstances of Mr. Artar’s detention and deportation, the legality of Rwanda’s cooperation with Turkish demands, and any breaches of international human rights and refugee law. - We urge the UNHCR and relevant UN Special Rapporteurs to publicly condemn this violation of international law.
The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants should formally request information from both governments and raise the case before the Human Rights Council. - We demand EU Member States suspend deportations to Turkey of individuals affiliated with the Gülen movement.
Until credible safeguards are in place to prevent arbitrary detention or torture, no individual should be returned to Turkey where they face a real risk of persecution. - We emphasise the binding obligation which states have undertaken to uphold their non-refoulement obligations and resist diplomatic pressure to return Turkish dissidents.
The use of asylum law must remain rooted in principle, not politics. Countries must resist bilateral pressure and prioritise international legal standards over appeasement. - We condemn the continued inaction of the international community to establish stronger safeguards to prevent transnational repression.
This includes creating accountability mechanisms for states that collaborate in cross-border targeting of dissidents, especially where asylum seekers and refugees are involved.
