Kenya announced Monday it has deported four Turkish refugees following an extradition request from Ankara, despite warnings from human rights organizations about potential persecution upon their return.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs defended the Friday deportation, citing strong diplomatic relations with Turkey and assurances from Turkish authorities that the deportees “will be treated with dignity in keeping with national and international law.”
Amnesty International had voiced opposition to the deportation on Saturday, warning that the individuals could face “serious human rights violations” in Turkey. The organization expressed “growing concerns about the safety of all refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya.”
The identities of the deported individuals and Turkey’s reasons for seeking their extradition were not disclosed in Kenya’s official statement. Kenya emphasized its ongoing commitment to protecting its refugee population, which includes approximately 780,000 people, predominantly from neighboring Somalia.
