Iranian Activist in Türkiye Pleas for Visa to Avoid Deportation

Iranian right activist Shilan Mirzaei, who has been languishing in a deportation camp in northern Türkiye for more than a month, says she will be sent back to Iran if she does not get a visa from a third country.

In an audio file released on November 30, Mirzaei says she has been informed by Turkish immigration officials that she needs to obtain an emergency visa and depart Türkiye within 60 days, or she will be deported to Iran.

"I only have 60 more days to escape the clutches of the Islamic Republic's criminal regime and save my life and my family," says Mirzaei, a mother of two young children.

Highlighting inconsistencies in the Turkish court rulings, the activist says that her prolonged detention in the Bandirma deportation camp "akin to a prison” shows the authorities' intention to report her to Iran.

The Turkish government has restricted Mirzaei’s ability to communicate about her case for over 36 days, she says, adding that her repeated appeals to various United Nations agencies for help have yielded no results.

Turkish authorities arrested Mirzaei and transferred her to the Bandirma deportation camp on October 24.

She was later informed that the Iranian authorities had requested her extradition to Iran.

The deportation of asylum seekers, refugees and political and civil activists living in Türkiye to Iran has seen a worrisome surge in recent years. 

UN refugee officials have also reduced their activities in Türkiye and now defer the handling of refugees to the government.

Earlier this year, Türkiye deported political activist Shahryar Baratinya to Iran, leading to his imprisonment in Tehran’s Evin prison.