Newsletters
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on Monday denied claims that Afghan, Iraqi and Syrian criminals were being sent to Türkiye by plane from European countries.
The allegations, reported in some Turkish media outlets, suggested that after Germany, Switzerland had also begun deporting Afghans who committed crimes—along with other criminals and fugitives—to Türkiye.
The Directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM) rejected the reports, calling them “entirely disinformation” in a statement posted on its X social media account.
“Türkiye has no practice of accepting third-country nationals from other countries. It is not possible for foreigners who have criminal records or no legal right of residence to be returned to Türkiye,” the statement said.
“Türkiye conducts procedures only for its own citizens, on an individual basis, within the framework of international law and after all required review and appeal processes have been completed. There is no situation in which third-country nationals are being sent to Türkiye either collectively or individually,” it added.
The DMM confirmed that a criminal complaint had been filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 for the offense of “publicly disseminating misleading information” in connection with the circulating claims.
“It is important for the public to heed statements made by official authorities and not to trust such baseless disinformation whose sources are unclear,” the statement concluded. “Respectfully announced to the public.”
7 min read
