News / Turkey

Sweden won't return failed asylum-seekers from Turkey

Wednesday, 03 August 2016 2:38 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 03 August 2016 2:39 PM ]

Family members of detained Turkish soldiers wait in front of the Istanbul Justice Palace in Turkey on July 20, 2016, following the failed coup of July 15. (AFP)

The Swedish Migration Agency said Wednesday it will not repatriate failed asylum-seekers from Turkey with “reliable connections” to the abortive coup of July 15.

Migrationsverket said “these are supporters of opposition leader, Fethullah Gulen,” referring to Turkey’s top opposition leader who has been in self-imposed exile in the United States.

The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Gulen of being behind the failed coup.

The Swedish agency also stated that asylum-seekers with “credible political opposition activities” also are included in “the risk groups.”

Guna Graufelds, the Migrationsverket spokeswoman, said Sweden does not rank countries as safe or unsafe when it comes to the repatriation of asylum-seekers. The government, instead, decides cases on an individual basis, she added.

The agency said further information is needed “on the current situation” in Turkey.

Sweden has received 172 asylum-seekers from Turkey so far in 2016. The figure was 253 in 2015.

Detained Turkish soldiers who were allegedly involved in the failed coup of July 15 arrive on a bus at the courthouse in Istanbul, July 20, 2016. (AFP)

The Turkish government has sacked, dismissed or detained more than 60,000 people over allegations of involvement in the coup attempt and links to Gulen. Ankara is under fire for its heavy crackdown on elements believed to be behind the failed coup.

Gulen said in a statement after the coup was launched that he had nothing to do with the putsch. Ankara, however, has been insisting that he masterminded the failed coup and that Washington must repatriate him.

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