The family of Ali Veli, a 19-year-old refugee from northern Syria who vanished after being released from a Turkish prison on 13 March, has been sent footage of him being tortured.
Unknown individuals, claiming to be part of an organisation, contacted the family via a Turkish phone number, issuing threats and demanding obedience. Kurdish sources claim the group has connections to Turkish intelligence. The communication included instructions from Ali, who believes he is being held in Syria, to his mother in Kurdish, followed by threats in Arabic and Turkish against the family.
The call was made to the family in Qamishli (Qamişlo), a city in northeastern Syria on the Syria-Turkey border, marking a concerning twist in Ali Veli’s case. The unidentified callers first conveyed messages through Ali to his mother, then directly threatened the family in multiple languages, stating the father’s involvement with their group was mandatory. They warned of dire consequences, including death threats against the entire family, should their demands not be met within a week.
The conversation, recorded by the family, highlights the dire situation Ali and his relatives find themselves in, exposed to explicit threats of violence.
Responding to the family’s plea for help, the Human Rights Association (İHD) in Mardin (Mêrdîn), the city on the other side of the border and adjoining Qamishli, has initiated actions to address Ali Veli’s predicament, focusing on his right to life.
Prison authorities in Turkey had previously informed Ali Veli’s relatives that he would be transferred to a repatriation centre for return to Syria. Still, details of his whereabouts remain unknown despite the family’s efforts to locate him.
The case brings to light the grave risks faced by refugees in Turkey, especially those of Kurdish origin.