The Tragic death of asylum seekers in Turkey!

 

The Solidarity Council of Iranian Asylum Seekers in Turkey is deeply concerned about the lack of health services available to asylum seekers in Turkey. This matter has put some many people of the risk of not being able to access and afford to pay for healthcare which has tragically led to the death of asylum seekers in recent months.

 For instance, on the 1st of March this year an asylum seeker called Masoud who resides in Yalova, and on 17th of May another asylum seeker called Mohammad Torabi, both of whom had been waiting for resettlement by the UNHCR in Turkey for 6 years, were denied access to health care and the medication they desperately needed. Tragically, this led to their death and so far no investigation has been considered to identify why their basic right to healthcare was denied!

 The Solidarity Council of Iranian Asylum Seekers in Turkey share their condolences with these asylum seekers families and friends. We would like to demand the United Nations and the UN High Commissioners for Refugees in Turkey to re-affirm their commitment to ensuring asylum seekers access to healthcare and the Turkish government to facilitate this access.

 We understand the lack of considerations from the UNHCR towards Iranian asylum seekers in Turkey and so lack of progress in processing their case and facilitate their exit from Turkey to third safe countries has increased the risk of being denied wellbeing and access to healthcare.

 We call on all refugee and human right institutions, labour activists and trade unions and also immigration lawyers and firms to appeal to UNHCR and the Turkish government to uphold  their commitments to refugees rights and well-beings’ in Turkey.

 The Solidarity Council of Iranian Asylum seekers in Turkey calls on all refugee organisations and those supporting their cause to work together on this crucial matter.

 

 The Solidarity Council of Iranian Asylum seekers in Turkey                                  June 2020