NGOs Criticize Refugees Ministry for Not Granting Refugee Status to Mustafa Cabuk

9 Georgian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have released a statement over the July 7 decision of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, which refused to grant the detained Turkish College Demirel Manager, Mustafa Emre Cabuk and his family the status of refugees.

The manager of Demirel College was arrested on May 24 with the charges of having links to the organization FETO, registered in the United States and associated with Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a military coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July, 2016. 

Tbilisi City Court ruled on May 25 that Cabuk would stay in three-month pre-extradition detention. If he had been granted the status of refugee, it would stop his extradition process.

“The decision of the ministry is obviously unreasonable, arbitrary and unreasonable expression of political loyalty towards the non-democratic regime of Turkey.

The NGOs claim that the arguments provided by the Ministry of refugees, that in case of Cabuk’s extradition to Turkey he will be placed to European standards cell and his rights will not be violated, are ungrounded.

“The assessments of the Ministry over the guarantees of the right to fair trial in Turkey and the absence of ill-treatment in the penitentiary establishments are absurd and unfounded,” the statement of organizations reads and adds that torture practice in Turkey has been denounced and condemned by various international organizations.

The NGOs call on the ministry to make the decision which will be in line with human rights standards and will not be politicized.

They also address the Ministry of Justice and the government of Georgia not to extradite Cabuk to Turkey because “this decision will essentially violate the fundamental human rights and raise questions over the quality of democracy in the country.”

“We call on the Parliament to understand political and social contexts of Mustafa Chabuk's case and provide effective parliamentary control over the case,” the NGOs stressed.

The lawyer of Cabuk, Soso Baratashvili says he will appeal the decision of the Ministry.

Along with the refugee status, Cabuk’s family asks for the political asylum from Georgian government.

The Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia says their decision is in line with the law and is not politically motivated.

The ministry is ready to present all documents, based on which they made the decision not to grant the refugee status to Cabuk and his family.

“Mustafa Cabuk’s life will not be in danger in case of his extradition to Turkey,” the ministry assures.

Thea Morrison