Exclusive | Risk of Extradition of a Refugee Journalist to Iran; Reza Ismaili Has Been Detained in Turkey for Three Months

Reza Ismaili, an Iranian refugee journalist in Turkey, is at risk of being returned to the Islamic Republic following his arrest and transfer to the Kucukcekmece detention center, where his life is in danger if he returns to Iran. Reza (Ahmad Reza) Ismaili, a local journalist who was active during the widespread protests of 2022 in Lorestan province and at one point served as a manager for the news outlet 'Sarkhat News' in the province, stated in a call with Voice of America that he has been detained for about 96 days 'due to illegal residency in administrative detention' and is at risk of extradition. This civil activist and journalist emphasized that he has been in detention for over three months and mentioned that 'his lawyer has requested international protection' but that 'administrative detention' continues, raising concerns that 'Turkey may not approve his asylum and deport him to Iran.' Reza Ismaili also stated that 'given the accusations and attempts to arrest and threaten his family, his life is in danger' and 'he fears he will be arrested immediately upon entering Iran.' This journalist from Khorramabad, who claims to have been active in reporting on the 'Mahsa uprising,' including 'news of protests, names of detainees, victims, and the deceased,' was pursued by government forces after 'distributing a call for a gathering' and 'being identified by plainclothes agents,' forcing him to live 'secretly' for a time. He told the Persian section of Voice of America that during this time, 'IRGC intelligence agents had gone to his house to arrest him and, in his absence, began to threaten his family.' Reza Ismaili also referred to the arrest of two of his colleagues and 'videos shown to them by interrogators from the intelligence agencies' near his workplace, stating that he had 'gone into hiding' and when 'plainclothes agents found his hiding place and came to arrest him, he was forced to move again.' He mentioned that there was a possibility of receiving heavy sentences and being accused of being a 'street leader' of the protests and 'subversive,' saying that he 'went to Karbala without renewing his passport and stayed there for a while,' but then 'after his visa expired in Iraq and a brief arrest by Iraqi forces,' he decided to go to Turkey via 'land border through Iraqi Kurdistan,' but the Kurdistan authorities did not allow him, forcing him to reach Turkey through 'Syria.' Reza Ismaili also stated that he had once been 'arrested by Turkish police and transferred to a camp' and despite visiting several cities, he could not obtain a residence permit as a refugee; meanwhile, although 'none of his family members or close friends in Iran knew his whereabouts,' 'plainclothes agents went to his father's house in Iran and threatened, saying that Reza is in Turkey and to inform him that we are still looking for him.' According to previous reports, Iranian political refugees have repeatedly been at risk of expulsion from Turkey. Previous reports also indicate that some Iranian refugees have lost their lives while attempting dangerous crossings of maritime borders to reach safe countries. Additionally, see: Several Iranian refugees drowned when their boat sank in the waters between Greece and Italy. The European Union's asylum agency reported that the number of Iranian refugees doubled in the first half of last year compared to the same period the previous year, with Germany being the primary destination for most of them.