Turkish family deported by government despite court orders
Shares
LAHORE - Turkish teacher Mesut Kaçmaz and his family, who were abducted from their home at a midnight in Lahore on September 27, were reportedly deported by Pakistani government to Turkey on early Saturday just two days before their scheduled appearance before a Pakistani court on Monday.
According to information given by the friends and colleagues of Mesut Kaçmaz, he and his family were deported to Turkey early Saturday. Mesut Kaçmaz and his wife Meral Kaçmaz were reportedly transferred to Ankara for interrogation. They were blindfolded and boarded on an unmarked flight from Islamabad for İstanbul in the morning on October 14, 2017. It was learned that teenaged daughters of Kaçmaz Couple have not been detained and reportedly staying with a relative in İstanbul.
Friends of Kaçmaz Family has stated that “We are in utter shock as we have just learnt that Mr. Mesut Kaçmaz and his family were deported to Turkey on October 14, 2017. He and his wife Meral Kaçmaz were moved to Ankara for interrogation. They were blindfolded and boarded on an unmarked flight from Islamabad for İstanbul in the morning. As confirmed by Meral Kaçmaz’s parents and the daughters, the teenaged daughters are not detained and are reported to be staying with a relative in İstanbul.”
Saying that this action is “a blatant violation of the family members’ UNHCR protection” the Kaçmaz Family’s friends have reminded that Kaçmaz Family’s UNCHR protection would expire on November 25, 2017 and the most recent certificate extension until October 13, 2018 as well as the consecutive high court decisions in Pakistan that ruled out their and other Turkish teachers’ deportation to Turkey.
“What power may bypass the rule of law in Pakistan and ‘deport’ them stealthily to Turkey?” asked they and added that “It is reported that their names are not found on any flight manifest bound for İstanbul on Saturday.”
Turkish teacher Mesut Kaçmaz and his family, who were abducted from their home at a midnight in Lahore had been illegally detained in an unknown place in the city despite a habeas corpus decision by the Lahore High Court to locate.
The four members of the Kaçmaz Family, who have been under the protection of the UNHCR were abducted on September 27 at around 2:30 a.m. by 15 armed and plain-clothed people, assumed to be Pakistani law enforcement or intelligence agents. The perpetrators blindfolded and hooded Mr. and Mrs. Kaçmaz along with their two teenaged daughters.
However, the Lahore High Court had decided on September 28 that no action should be taken until a decision to be given by a court on October 6. It should also be noted that the abduction of the family had taken place by disregarding an earlier Lahore High Court decision preventing harassment of Turkish asylum-seeking teachers and their families across Pakistan. Pakistani authorities had kept the place of detention secret and therefore Kaçmaz family has not been seen by anyone including their lawyers. Pakistani government has not make any explanation either.
