Kurdish activist Mehmet Çakas is set to be deported to Turkey at the end of the month, despite pending court rulings. He is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for PKK membership and would be in grave danger in Turkey.
Despite recognition of his history of persecution by the Turkish state, the Higher Regional Court in Celle found Kurdish activist Mehmet Çakas guilty of involvement in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) at the end of last year. As a result of the ruling, the 45-year-old activist is currently serving his prison sentence in Uelzen Prison. Despite the fact that he is scheduled to be released on October 4, German authorities officially informed him on Monday that he is to be deported to Turkey on August 28.
The Central Human Rights Council of Kurds in Germany (ZMRK) has launched a petition to protect Mehmet Çakas from deportation, demanding that he be granted protection in Germany as a victim of political persecution in Turkey.
In the text of the petition, titled “Stop the deportation of Mehmet Çakas – protection for politically persecuted people now!”, ZMRK points out that Çakas filed a lawsuit after seeing his asylum application rejected. However, the Lüneburg Administrative Court will not hear this case until September 8—a week and a half after the announced deportation.
“The authorities want to carry out the deportation beforehand, without regard for human rights. An urgent application for recognition of a ban on deportation pursuant to Section 60 (5) of the Residence Act was not seriously examined by the Lüneburg Administrative Court. In addition, urgent proceedings are currently pending before the Federal Constitutional Court,” says the petition, which demands:
– The immediate suspension of Mehmet Çakas’ deportation!
– The recognition of a ban on deportation under Section 60(5) of the Residence Act, because he is at risk of having his human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) violated!
– A fair asylum procedure in Germany in accordance with the rule of law!
– A clear stance against authoritarian regimes instead of collaboration!
– An end to the criminalization of Kurdish activism in Germany!
Germany must not deport anyone who faces torture and persecution – especially not before the courts have ruled on their residence status.
The petition by ZMRK states: “As the Kurdish community in all four parts of Kurdistan is subjected to massive human rights violations, persecution, oppression, and torture, he was forced to flee due to this persecution. He has been committed to the right of self-determination for the Kurdish community in Germany in a democratic and peaceful manner. This commitment must not be criminalized. Such criminalization is an expression of anti-Kurdish racism and severely restricts the rights of Kurds living in Germany. As the Central Human Rights Council of Kurds in Germany, we are committed to protecting the human rights of the Kurdish community in Germany.”