Kurdish activist and refugee Serhat Gültekin was deported from France to Turkey on 12 April, prompting demonstrations against the suppression of pro-Kurdish political activities abroad.
Gültekin was reportedly handcuffed, gagged and blindfolded on the deportation flight. His deportation went ahead despite concerns over his health conditions. The deportation took place just before Gültekin was due to have a legal review of his continued detention in France.
Gültekin’s lawyers Şule Recepoğlu, Ümit Binici and Sidar Perçin said, “The French state deported Serhat to Turkey without waiting for the courts to rule on the legality of his removal. It has ignored all his health problems in deciding to send him back illegally.” They went on to state that they had made numerous legal appeals, and representations to the French authorities, to no avail.
Supporters voiced concerns that Gültekin would face torture at the hands of the Turkish state.
Danielle Simonnet, who is an elected representative in Paris for the New Ecological and Social People’s Union (LFI-NUPES), posted on X that:
“The Macron/Darmanin government is betraying fundamental republican principles, including the right to asylum, by deporting Kurdish activists when it knows perfectly well that the power of [Turkish President] Erdoğan, the nationalist Islamist dictator, will imprison them! Enough is enough! Let France truly protect the Kurds and demand the release of Kurdish prisoners in Turkey!”
Le gouvernement de Macron/Darmanin trahit les principes fondamentaux républicains dont le droit d’asile en expulsant des militants kurdes alors qu’il sait parfaitement que le pouvoir d’Erdogan, dictateur nationaliste islamiste, va les emprisonner !
Ça suffit !
Que la France… pic.twitter.com/ikwUIkhAfy— Danielle Simonnet (@SimonnetDeputee) April 13, 2024
Elle Joussellin of the French Communist Party attended a demonstration against the deportation of Gültekin, as well as Firat Korkmaz, and Mehmet Kopal, two other Kurdish refugees who have been deported from France in the last three weeks. He said in a post on X that “Macron cannot be Erdoğan’s staunch defender. Stop the expulsions of Kurdish activists.”
Avec nos amis kurdes cet après midi pour crier notre colère face à l’expulsion de trois kurdes en 10 jours.
Après la défaite historique infligée à Erdogan par les turcs et kurdes, Macron ne peut pas être le défenseur acharné d’Erdogan.
Stop aux expulsions de militants kurdes. pic.twitter.com/lnzSnsd2XD
— Elie Joussellin (@ElieJoussellin) April 13, 2024
University professor Dominique Sopo also attended the demonstration against the deportations. She posted angrily on X: “At a time when Erdoğan’s regime is confusing terrorism with closeness to the Kurdish cause, France must protect these activists.” Sopo is also the President of the SOS Racism coalition of NGOs.
Cet après-midi à Paris, aux côtés de nos amis du @Le_CDKF pour dire notre indignation suite aux expulsions vers la Turquie de militants de la cause kurde.
Alors que le régime d'Erdogan amalgame terrorisme et proximité avec la cause kurde, la France doit protéger ces militants. pic.twitter.com/yvnsuiCUFG— Dominique Sopo (@d_sopo) April 13, 2024
French journalist Ariane Bonzon pointed out that the French government has pushed ahead with these deportations despite the fact that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regularly criticises the “judicial iniquity” in Turkey.
En vertu #accord sécurité 🇫🇷-🇹🇷, et alors que la CEDH dénonce régulièrement l'#iniquité judiciaire en 🇹🇷, en 15 jours trois kurdes ont été renvoyés de 🇫🇷 en🇹🇷 : Firat Korkmaz, le 27/03; Mehmet Kopal, ss OQTF, le 9/04 (G); Serhat Gultekin (D), hier. pic.twitter.com/FAQG70ms8d
— Ariane Bonzon (@ArianeBonzon) April 13, 2024
French newspaper L’Humanite reported that Gültekin had already been transferred to Metris Prison in Istanbul, despite representations from his lawyers that he should be taken directly to hospital. He has so far been unable to meet with his legal counsel.
