Austria’s decision on extradition of Kurdish asylum seeker to Turkey raises concerns

On Sep 22, 2023

The application of Kurdish asylum seeker Özgür Doğan, who applied for asylum in Austria in 2017, was rejected after six years. Doğan, who has many cases pending against him in Turkey, was also ordered to be extradited to Turkey. Doğan, who cannot apply for asylum in another European country under the Dublin Convention, needs regular medical monitoring due to serious health problems.

Özgür Doğan volunteered as a journalist and stood in solidarity with social organizations during the resistance against the Islamic State (ISIS) in northern and eastern Syria between 2014 and 2017. In 2017, Doğan was seriously injured in his head and other parts of his body in an ISIS bomb attack. In 2017, he was forced to flee Syria and applied for asylum in Austria as a political refugee.

Acquitted as proven innocent

Two years after applying for asylum, he was arrested in Austria and acquitted after six months in detention as his innocence was proven. After 6 years, Doğan’s asylum application was rejected and it was decided to deport him to Turkey as soon as possible. Özgür Doğan has been on the run outside Europe for three months, trying to find a solution as he fears for his safety if extradited to Turkey.

Defend Kurdistan issued a statement on the decision during the march for Kurdish activist Özgür Doğan and all political refugees in the Austrian capital Vienna. “Despite being politically active and persecuted in Turkey, Kurds and members of the opposition from Turkey are no longer granted international protection in Austria,” Defend Kurdistan said in a statement.

Is fighting ISIS a crime?

Özgür Doğan sent a message for the protest, which was read out. Doğan said in his message: “When my search and arrest warrant was issued by the fascist Turkish state in 2014, I went to Rojava to be part of the resistance against the ISIS massacre in Rojava and worked with local organizations and journalists. In 2017, I was seriously injured in my head and certain parts of my body in an ISIS bomb attack and came to Austria for treatment. After applying for asylum, I started to receive treatment, but in 2019, when I had not yet recovered psychologically and physically, I was arrested. What was the reason? My stance against the war in my country, my commitment to peace, my solidarity with my people? According to the Austrian state, these were terrorist activities. I was imprisoned for 6 months for unfounded reasons.”

Doğan said that Austria had passed on all his testimonies to Turkey and that another file had been opened in Turkey because of his testimonies in Austria: “This in itself is unlawful and a crime. Although I have many files in Turkey, the extradition decision itself is unjust. Is it a crime to struggle against the terrorist organization ISIS? It’s a crime in Turkey, that’s why I’m here, but I’ve been treated the same way here.”