An administrative court in Kassel, Germany ruled to temporarily halt deportation proceedings for Muhiddin Fidan just ahead of a planned flight to Turkey for the Kurdish activist.
Fidan was arrested in the central German city on Friday, and was taken to Darmstadt to await deportation. The father of five fears persecution if he is returned to Turkey due to his activities in the Kurdish diaspora in Germany, refugee organisation Pro Asyl Spokesman Tareq Alaows told reporters. “Now the focus is on the fight for a right to stay.”
The activist has lived in Germany for 27 years, and his wife and children hold German citizenship. He left Turkey at age 13, and his current residence permit was issued in 2011. An issue arose with his permit in 2015, and the case was only resolved in 2021, with a negative result.
Fidan’s involvement in the Navenda Civaka Kurdistan eV was cited as the reason for the rejection, on grounds of terrorist activity. The social centre is legally operated and the activist was teaching traditional Kurdish dances there, as well as helping organise demonstrations for Kurdish rights, which had permits from the local authorities.
“Muhiddin was not brought to justice for any of these activities, as they were not criminal,” activists said in a letter to the German government campaigning for his release.
The German government “work with the Turkish regime to clear away political opponents”, Berlin House of Representatives Member Ferat Koçak said in a message about Fidan.
The next steps for Fidan remain unclear.
