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Sweden delays sending back Erdogan dissenters

The Local Sweden
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Sweden delays sending back Erdogan dissenters
Turkey's President Recap Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP

Asylum seekers with ties to the opposition from last month’s failed coup attempt in Turkey will not be sent back to the nation by Sweden until further notice, the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) has decided.

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The decision covers “people with credible connection to the attempted coup on July 15th” in Turkey, where an attempted military takeover was foiled after President Recap Tayyip Erdogan rallied supporters to quash the move.

The group considered by the Migration Agency to be at potential risk includes supporters of Turkish opposition leader Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara has named as responsible for the coup attempt against Erdogan.

People who have taken part in “credible political opposition” are also part of the risk group, the Migration Agency writes on its website. The decision was taken on July 18th and is valid until further notice.


Turkey has blamed Fethullah Gülen for the failed coup. Photo: Chris Post/AP/TT

The migration authority also says that decisions on granting asylum to members of the concerned groups may be temporarily delayed because the agency believes further information on the “political and safety situation in Turkey” is needed.

The Swedish Migration Agency also advised that the situation in Turkey does not hinder tourist transfers via Istanbul or other Turkish airports.

Erdogan has responded to the failed coup by closing dozens of media outlets, while he also demanded last week that Germany should extradite supporters of Gulen, as well as for Gulen himself to be extradited by the USA, where he lives.

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