Ariya Yousefi, an 18-year-old from Bukan, was arrested by Iranian security forces after being deported from Turkey and remains in an indeterminate situation.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Ariya Yousefi, the son of Fatemeh Davand, a former political activist and one of those detained during the November 2019 protests, was arrested at the Maku border and transferred to the Intelligence Office of this city on the evening of Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Despite eight days since his arrest, the Yousefi family has received no information about his condition, and they have only been informed by the Maku Intelligence Office that he is being held in their detention center.
It is notable that this young man was previously sentenced to five months in prison in 2021 on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” His re-arrest after being deported from Turkey has raised concerns about his situation.
It is said that Ariya Yousefi was deported to Iran along with his mother, but his mother managed to escape.
The Situation of Iranian Refugees in Turkey and Their Deportation to Iran
The situation of Iranian refugees in Turkey has become increasingly complex and tense in recent years. With rising political and security pressures from the Islamic Republic of Iran and some changes in Turkey’s asylum policies, many Iranian refugees face the threat of deportation and forced return to Iran. This is particularly concerning for political, civil, and human rights activists who are persecuted in Iran for their activities.
Deportation of Iranian refugees to Iran means returning them to an environment where their lives and safety are severely threatened. Arrest, torture, long-term imprisonment, and even execution are among the dangers these refugees face if they return to Iran.
Additionally, many Iranian refugees in Turkey face discrimination and harassment upon their return to Iran due to various reasons, including gender, sexual orientation, and political beliefs.
On the other hand, the Turkish government is under domestic and international pressure to control the flow of refugees. These pressures have led Turkey to adopt stricter policies towards refugees and expedite the deportation process, including for Iranian refugees.