UN Human Rights bodies, namely Mandates of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, urge Turkey to respond its communication dated 5 May 2020 about the information they have received concerning what appears to be a systematic practice of state-sponsored extraterritorial abductions and forcible return of Turkish nationals from multiple States to Turkey.

To date, according to UN findings, at least 100 individuals suspected of involvement with the Hizmet/Gulen movement have been subjected to arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearance and torture, as part of covert operations reportedly organized or abetted by Turkish Government in coordination with authorities in Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Gabon, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and Pakistan, among others.

Please read the full communication and Turkish Government’s response here.

You can also download the original communication from the UN website as well:

Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.

Bill clinton