The United Nations refugee company (UNHCR) mentioned it was “deeply involved” by the information that 4 refugees had returned to Turkey from Kenya.
Kenya’s international ministry mentioned the refugees had been repatriated on the request of the Turkish authorities.
There have been earlier studies that a number of individuals had been kidnapped within the capital Nairobi on Friday.
A British nationwide informed the BBC that he and several other Turkish residents had been kidnapped by masked males.
He mentioned he was launched eight hours later after displaying his alleged kidnappers a replica of his British passport.
“UNHCR urges the Kenyan authorities to adjust to its worldwide authorized obligations, specifically respecting the precept of non-refoulement,” UNHCR mentioned in a press release. [forced return of refugees]which protects asylum seekers and refugees from any measures which may consequence of their deportation to a spot the place their life or freedom can be threatened.
Kenya’s international ministry mentioned it had agreed to Turkey’s request to repatriate the 4 males as a result of nation’s “robust historic and strategic relations” with Turkey and warranted that the refugees can be “handled with dignity”.
The 4 are believed to be followers of the Gülen motion, a strong Islamist group with followers in Türkiye and world wide. Its leader had just died.
The Gulen motion operates a community of colleges in Kenya and world wide.
The group, identified in Türkiye as Hizmet, or “the Service,” was blamed for masterminding the 2016 coup and was later declared a terrorist group.
Turkish authorities have but to touch upon the deportations.
In accordance with the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Conference, refugees shouldn’t be returned to international locations the place they face severe threats to their life or freedom.
After the kidnapping, Kenyan regulation agency Mukele & Kakai mentioned it acted on behalf of 4 registered refugees and warned airways to not take them on board.
A letter seen by the BBC described them as “victims of political victimization”.
The Kenyan authorities mentioned it was “unwaveringly dedicated to defending and selling refugee rights” and “dedicated to defending the privateness and confidentiality of deportees”.
British nationwide Necdet Seyitoğlu, tell the bbc Six different individuals he knew – all Turkish residents – had been additionally kidnapped in the identical method from completely different areas in Nairobi.
The British Overseas Workplace mentioned in a press release that “consular help is being offered to a British man and his household following incidents in Kenya.”
After the kidnapping, Kenyan police informed the BBC {that a} motorcyclist witnessed the kidnapping and that they had been investigating a “kidnapping incident”.
Stories say two autos intercepted and intercepted a silver sedan carrying two passengers from the entrance and rear.
“About eight armed males emerged from two autos, rescued the 2 passengers” and drove off with them, Kenyan police spokesperson Resila Onyango mentioned.
Nevertheless, an Amnesty Worldwide Kenya spokesman mentioned he was “deeply involved by studies that seven asylum seekers from Turkey have been kidnapped in Kenya”.
The UN refugee company informed the BBC it was “conscious of studies and can present extra info as quickly because it turns into accessible”.
Türkiye’s relations with African countries Relations between the 2 international locations have grown over the previous 20 years, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looking for to strengthen ties.
However Kenya’s shut relationship with Türkiye goes again a lot additional.
In 1999, Kurdish separatist chief Abdullah Ocalan was arrested by Turkish forces within the nation and introduced house, the place he was tried and later convicted of treason.
