30 asylum seekers from Afghanistan detained in Turkey

Turkish media reported the arrest of 30 Afghan asylum seekers in Bitlis, Sivas, and Balıkesir as arrests and deportations of Afghan migrants in Turkey continue to rise.

According to Turkish media reports, these individuals were detained on Tuesday, January 7, from various cities and transferred to deportation centers.

Reports indicate that 24 Afghan migrants were arrested in Bitlis for lacking legal residency documents, while six others were detained in Sivas and Balıkesir.

Meanwhile, police in the city of Edirne reported the detention of 15 Afghan and Pakistani migrants, stating that they were also sent to deportation centers. However, Edirne police did not provide details on the exact number of Afghan nationals detained.

This comes as nationwide operations to arrest and deport Afghan migrants have surged in recent weeks across Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran.

Previously, Turkey’s Ministry of Interior announced that over the past five years, more than one million “illegal” migrants were detained in the country, with the figure for 2024 reaching 175,786.

The ministry also noted that Afghan nationals ranked first among those arrested in the past five years, followed by Syrian nationals.

Additionally, the Ministry of Interior stated that 9,761 human traffickers were apprehended in the past year and handed over to judicial authorities.

Turkey has intensified its efforts to combat illegal migration, with officials repeatedly emphasizing the return of Afghan migrants to their home country.

Official statistics estimate that over 300,000 Afghan migrants live in Turkey, many of whom face significant challenges, including arrests, residency restrictions, and forced deportations.

The ongoing crackdown on Afghan migrants highlights the urgent need for regional and international cooperation to address the root causes of migration. Countries receiving these migrants must balance enforcement with humanitarian considerations, ensuring the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations are protected.

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