On September 6, 2018 six Turkish nationals in Moldova were detained. SIS agents of Moldova conducted the detainment of Vice Director and five educationists in Orizont Moldovan-Turkish Educational Institutions early hours in the morning. The detainees’ names were affirmed as Riza Dogan, Hasan Karacaoglu, Yasin Ozdil, Mujdat Celebi, Huseyin Bayraktar and Feridun Tufekci. The wife of Hasan Karacaoglu, the Vice director, stated that they have been living in Moldova for 20 years. Except Huseyin Bayraktar, five of the detainees are asylum seekers who are supposed to be granted by the end of September.
Additionally; the director of Orizont Schools, Turgay Sen, was detained without
any explanation in March 2018 and released in April after applying for asylum.
It is internationally known that Turkish government tracks the Gulen followers or sympathizers who have been targeted oppressively since the failed coup attempt. Abductions, detainments and deportations take place in such countries where rule of law and democracy are not applied. And Turkish government urges those countries to implement these illegal actions. Given the recent abduction cases in different countries such as Mongolia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Malaysia, Kirghizistan, Pakistan and also threats of deportation to Turkey where a fair trial is not likely nowadays and there is fear of torture; an urgent action to release these people and to provide protection for them is extremely vital.
As reported by families of detainees and local media resources, the lawyers are not allowed to communicate with them. Amnesty International Moldova Director Cristina Pereteatcu stated that a possible deportation would be taken into consideration. It was also reported that the operation was conducted by SIS Antiterror agents which means judicial authorities are not involved in the case. Whereabouts of detainees is still unknown. The Minister of Justice stated that Moldova could be exposed to penalty by ECHR because of the detainment and possible deportation of Turkish educationists.
We write you today to emphasize our great concern about the detainment and prospective extradition of these six educationists and also to request to take urgent action from the Government of Moldova to release and provide protection of human rights of them along with all other Hizmet movement affiliated people.
Sincerely,
Download sample statement as a word document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Moldova-case.docx
Download AST statement signed by AST spokesperson Hafsa Yildiz as a pdf document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Moldova-case.pdf
Download Letter of the European Parliament Members as a pdf document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/letter-for-co-signature-Turkish-teachers-deported.pdf
Download Letter of the Arrested Lawyers Initiative as a pdf document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LETTER.pdf
Download Letter of the London Advocacy Group as a word document:
https://silencedturkey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Turkish-regime-continues-with-the-witch-hunt-in-Moldova.docx
We urge everyone to take action. Express your views or send attached statement to following addresses:
1) Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, U.S. Helsinki Commission
Phone: 202-225-1901
Fax: 202-226-4199
Email: INFO@CSCE.GOV
Twitter: @HelsinkiComm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helsinkicommission/
Chairman: Senator Roger F. Wicker
Address and Contact:
555 Dirksen 555 Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Main: (202) 224-6253 |Fax: (202) 228-0378 | Twitter: @SenatorWicker
Email: senator@wicker.senate.gov
Co-Chairman: Representative Christopher H. Smith
Washington DC Office: 2373 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3765 | Fax: (202) 225-7768 | Twitter: @RepChrisSmith
https://chrissmith.house.gov/contact/zipauth.htm
2) Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-5887
Email: TLHRC@mail.house.gov
Twitter: @TLHumanRights
3) United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC)
Phone: (+41) 22 917 9656
Email: civilsociety@ohchr.org
Twitter: @UN_HRC
Website: www.ohchr.org/hrc
4) The European Court of Human Rights Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg cedex
Phone: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 18
Fax: +33 (0)3 88 41 27 30
Mr. Günter SCHIRMER
Head of the Secretariat
Phone: +33/3 88.41.2809
Email: guenter.schirmer@coe.int
5) U.S. Department of State
Phone: (202) 647-6575
Email: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform
Twitter: @StateDept
Website: https://www.state.gov/
6) Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States
Phone: 202-456-6213
Email: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Twitter: @VP
7) Senator Cory Booker
Phone: (202) 224-3224
Fax: (202) 224-8378
Email: https://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=contact
Twitter:@SenBooker
8) Moldova Contacts
petitii@prm.md ( Moldova President – Petitions Department )
secdep@mfa.md ( Foreign Affairs )
secretariat@justice.gov.md (Minister of Justice )
https://gov.md/en/content/write-prime-minister ( prime minister link to e-mail )
washington@mfa.md ( Moldova Embassy in U.S.)
9) Permanent Mission of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations
Phone: (212) 447-1867
Fax: (212) 447-4067
E-mail: NEW-YORK@mfa.md ,
unmoldova@mfa.md(preferred)
News articles on the raid:
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/09/06/world/europe/06reuters-moldova-turkey
http://www.tr724.com/insan-kacirma-simdi-de-moldovada
https://dtj-online.de/entfuehrung-von-bildungsaktivisten-in-moldawien-111876
http://proderechos.org/el-largo-brazo-de-erdogan-se-extiende-a-europa
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2018/09/turkish-teachers-detained-moldova-gulen
Social media posts on the raid:
Director of the Moldovan-Turkish school Orizont and five teachers, taken up by SIS officers -by the demand of Turkey’s authoritarian leader Erdogan- one of the teachers in the institution says. They might be deported to Turkey where they will face possible torture @BBC @Amnesty pic.twitter.com/ljifzam398
— Human Rights Turkey (@HumanRightsTR) September 6, 2018
Six Turkish nationals arbitrarily detained in Moldova facing extradition over links to Gülen movement https://t.co/N6zqQcn9AA via @StockholmCF pic.twitter.com/9EjHrACMG8
— SCF (@StockholmCF) September 6, 2018
#MoldovaStopExtradition Director of the Moldovan-Turkish high-school Orizont affiliated with #Gulen Movement and 5 other people, arrested by SIS officers by political reasons – one of the teachers says. They might be forced to go to #Turkey and face #torture @nateschenkkan @hrw
— AST (@silencedturkey) September 6, 2018
Orizont teachers in #Moldova: I expect the #Moldovan government and all authorities to respect rule of law and all established judicial procedures.
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) September 6, 2018
Allegations at the time centered on relationship between Ankara and President Igor Dodon, who had taken a very nice Turkish vacation over the holidays, and whose presidential palace is being renovated with Turkish money. https://t.co/fCl9P73H3W
— Nate Schenkkan (@nateschenkkan) September 6, 2018
Erdogan's 'Long Arm' is trying to 'Kidnap' his “enemies” all around the world. #Erdogan #insane #ruthless #dictator https://t.co/IHq76nwonq
— AlonBenMeir (@AlonBenMeir) September 6, 2018
This is outrageous by both Turkey & Moldova. https://t.co/qOcLGcqdVS
— Matthew Scott (@Barristerblog) September 6, 2018
A photo from director Yasin's home at Orizont schools in #Moldova. SIS authorities brake down the door in the morning and detained him using force. They may face #torture in #Turkey @UNHumanRights #MoldovaStopExtradition pic.twitter.com/2y98t2LGvq
— AST (@silencedturkey) September 6, 2018
I strongly support the urgent appeal by @amnesty to government of Rep of Moldova: stop the deportation of teachers to Turkey. Teaching children is not a crime. @Diplomacy_RM #MoldovaStopExtradition https://t.co/WSDfd6eYMW
— Rebecca Harms (@RebHarms) September 6, 2018
Tukish Intelligence Agecy involved in the illegal arrest of 6 suspects in #Moldova to be extradited to Turkey according to pro-government media #MoldovaStopExtradition @KenRoth @MDFoundation @PLDMoldova @USembMoldova https://t.co/yyLyeaKI8o
— AST (@silencedturkey) September 6, 2018
Mr President @Tudor_Moldova, please stop these extradition: @ECHR_Press has requested defence statement from Bulgaria and Azerbaijan because of their such extradition practices concerning Turkish nationals. #MoldovaStopExtradition @Diplomacy_RM @UNMoldova https://t.co/sqmRmzTqAo
— The Arrested Lawyers (@ArrestedLawyers) September 6, 2018
Momentul retinerii unuia dintre directorii liceului Orizont. In imagini apare si un copil care este urcat cu forta intr-un microbuz – VIDEO https://t.co/82pM4BSjcH pic.twitter.com/S7w4CTW1Pc
— ProTV Chișinău (@protv_moldova) September 6, 2018
As Gulen-linked teachers are reported to be abducted in #Moldova, after recent cases in Pakistan Ukraine, Kosovo, @nateschenkkan’s article explains #Turkey's disregard of international law in pursuit of a global purge of opponents#MoldovaStopExtradition https://t.co/SsArxHyQon
— Abdülhamit Bilici (@ahamitbilici) September 6, 2018
Local police in #Moldova detained several Turkish teachers linked with Gulen movement on Erdogan's demand.
Teachers may face extradition to Turkey where they will face torture and jail. Morever, teachers are Asylum Seeker, #UN must act.#MoldovaStopExtradition— Cevheri Güven (@cevheriguven) September 6, 2018
This matters everywhere, but in Europe (Moldova, Kosovo, Bosnia, Bulgaria) it is directly in conflict with European Union (& US) goals of democratic transformation. It's an important shift in Turkish FP to undermine the basis for European integration in southeastern Europe.
— Nate Schenkkan (@nateschenkkan) September 6, 2018
Amnesty demands urgent action for Turkish educators at risk of extradition from Moldova || https://t.co/QghKkd1fWY pic.twitter.com/IybuuJCZ4R
— Turkey Purge (@TurkeyPurge) September 6, 2018
Intreaga conducere a Liceului “Orizont” din Chisinau (6 persoane), liceu apartinand de reteaua liceelor “Lumina”,…
Posted by Rares Bogdan on Thursday, September 6, 2018
Poftim! retinerea unuia din directorii liceului "Orizont", impreuna cu copilul lui.
Posted by Cristina Pereteatcu on Wednesday, September 5, 2018
La Aeroport cerem stoparea vânzărilor de oameni!
Posted by Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate on Thursday, September 6, 2018
Videos on the abduction of Teachers in Moldova:
Moldovian Student who is in protests at the Airport
Moldovian student who was in the same car when the kidnapping happened
Set him free!! call, from Riza Dogan’s kids
Set him free!! call, from Yasin Ozdil’s daughter
