‘Dignity was disregarded’: Kurdish journalist recounts alleged abuse at Turkish detention to 'Post'
Though the Foreign Ministry declined to comment to the Post on the reports, Aziznezhad said he would like to see Turkey face justice for its crimes.
Kurdish journalist Zanyar Aziznezhad has recounted his year-long detention in a Turkish deportation center, alleging that his basic human dignity was disregarded. According to Aziznezhad, Turkish authorities beat refugees, denied them access to proper hygiene facilities, and used the threat of deportation to profit from and traffic refugees.
He spent 2023 to 2024 at the Kocaeli deportation center after fleeing political persecution in Iran. Aziznezhad was arrested on July 4, 2023, and initially held overnight in a crowded room with 40 others, lacking essential supplies like water, food, and blankets. Later, he was moved to a 12 square meter room to house 12 people. He endured beatings, torture, harassment, and denied access to basic hygiene facilities.
Detainees were limited to 20 minutes outside daily and only allowed one cigarette a day, with those caught smoking more being beaten. Aziznezhad was beaten four or five times for purchasing more cigarettes. He was taken to an officer's room every 15 days and pressured to sign deportation forms, despite having complete documentation to prove he could not safely return to Iran.
Despite the UNHCR's recognition of his status as a political refugee, authorities continued to subject him to these abuses. Aziznezhad claimed that detainees had no proper shower facilities and had to bathe in toilets, leading to skin conditions. Medical treatment was provided only if detainees signed deportation agreements or were "on the verge of death."
The center allegedly had no recreational facilities, and officials created a false impression of respecting human rights by selecting refugees to showcase during visits by Turkish NGO ASAM. Aziznezhad alleged that Turkish authorities systematically forced detainees to sign deportation forms to secure funding from human rights organizations and the European Union, regardless of their status.
He estimated that roughly 11 buses of detainees were deported each week during his year in detention.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
