Deported Turks' families seek justice, asylum in Kosovo

Sevda Günakan has not seen her father since she was arrested and deported by Kosovo to Turkey at the end of March.

He had been arrested incorrectly by Kosovo Police the day five other Turkish citizens were arrested wanted by Ankara authorities.

Hasan Hüseyin Günakan in Turkey is being charged with terrorism, as are other detainees.

His daughter, who continues to stay in Kosovo, calls the arrest of her father a major scandal.

There was a scandal that had been deported to them there, but there was a second bigger scandal when my father was taken by mistake because of the similarity of the name. We heard that right after he was arrested they realized he was another person. However, when these have asked Turkey's authorities, they have said that there is no connection, because this too has been a school worker”, says Sevda Gunakan.

Her father's name, Hasan Hüseyin Günakan, was very similar to the person in search.

Hasan Hüseyin Demir was the one to be arrested instead of her father.

Sevda Gunakan says that since his arrest he has not communicated with his father at all and that he still cannot believe what has happened.

We have come to Kosovo in 2005 and have been working and operating here ever since. We came here because we loved Kosovo. I've only gone to Turkey for studies and returned here. We've loved Kosovo, we wouldn't have lived for 13 years here”, Gunakan says.

Family members who continue to be in Kosovo fear that one day they too will be sought by Turkey.

According to them, the only hope of living free in Kosovo is to accept the demand for asylum. Many of them have already sought asylum in Kosovo, says Kujtim Kastrati, lawyer of the Gylistan Educational Centre.

“From our employees we have information that some of them have been seeking asylum because of the problems they've encountered and in some cases the feeling of uncertainty in Kosovo because asylum also initiates international institutions to protect these individuals. It is the United Nations, which has such a mandate, against those seeking asylum, but a humble citizen who stands on residence and work permits does not have such protection”, says Kastrati.

Sanije ãozkan, who after her husband's arrest, lives only with her daughter.

On the second day after the event that happened, I requested something from the Government of Kosovo. I've asked from now on, neither for me nor for all colleagues who are here in Kosovo, not to repeat this case and offer us vital security here in Kosovo”, says Sanije ouszkan.

Jasmine Karabina, wife of Deputy Director General of the School “Mehmet Akif”, currently arrested, Yusuf Karabina, says her husband and other detainees were mistreated during the arrest.

Based on information sent to us through the lawyer, the man said that once they got on the plane, they tied their hands and feet, locked their ears, and covered them with sackcloth. When they have gone to Turkey, the prosecution has been charged with managing the terrorist organisation”, Jasmine Karabina relates.

She believes her husband is innocent and hopes he will return to Kosovo.

Even if we leave Kosovo, I would return if I had to choose, I would volunteer to serve here. I also think my husband would do if he was released. I am sure he will be released because justice will come and he will return to Kosovo, meet with his friends here, to drink tea together”, says Jasmine Karabina.

According to lawyer Urim Vokshi, who is protecting the families of the deportees, there is legal basis for their return to Kosovo, if for such a thing Kosovo and Turkey agree.

“We cannot prejudge whether the state of Kosovo will manage to reverse them or not. While our institutions declare they have good co-operation with the Turkish republic, we believe that even the Turkish state will have to return and respect Kosovo's laws in the sense of co-operation. However, if this does not happen then it is questioned whether we have co-operation or have submission to another state”, says lawyer Vokshi.

The family of 6 Turkish citizens, who have contact only with lawyers in Turkey, say they have not expected something like this would happen in Kosovo.