Uyghur Mother and One-Month-Old Baby Released After Facing Deportation to China in Turkiye

By Uyghur Times Staff
Jan 11, 2026

An Uyghur mother and her one-month-old baby facing deportation to China in Turkey have been released after being held in administrative detention, following legal objections and strong public and human rights advocacy.

The case began on the night of December 24, when Turkish police carried out a late-night raid on the Istanbul home of an Uyghur family. Four family members—Merziye Penirdin, Bilal Erkin, Müeyesser Ali, and Abdullah Pehirdin—were taken into custody. Among those detained was Enes Abdullah, a baby just one month old.

Following the operation, Müeyesser Ali and her infant son were placed under administrative detention and transferred to deportation centers, triggering alarm that they could be forcibly returned to China, where Uyghurs face widespread and well-documented persecution.

Health Concerns and Legal Objections

Speaking to KARAR newspaper, the family’s lawyer said the health condition of both the mother and the newborn was deeply concerning. Müeyesser Ali reportedly lives with only one kidney, while the infant requires regular medical monitoring—conditions that were allegedly ignored during the detention process.

During their transfer from the Kırklareli Deportation Center to İzmir, the health of three other children in the family, aged 1, 3, and 6, deteriorated. As a result, those children were handed over to relatives. Only the mother and the one-month-old baby were sent to the İzmir Deportation Center.

Despite the family holding valid and active residence permits and having lived in Turkey for approximately 11 years, İzmir Provincial Migration Management extended the administrative detention without providing a clear or concrete justification. The family’s lawyer filed an objection with the Criminal Court of Peace, arguing that both the detention and deportation orders were unlawful.

Deportation to China “Legally Impossible”

The lawyer emphasized that deporting the family to China is both legally and practically impossible, citing extensive international documentation of systematic human rights abuses against Uyghurs. Any deportation, he said, would violate the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international law that prohibits returning individuals to countries where they face serious harm.

Although Turkish law allows migration authorities to release detainees without waiting for a court ruling, this authority is rarely exercised in practice.

Public Reaction and Advocacy

The case sparked strong reactions from Uyghur activists and human rights defenders.

Mehmet Tohti, Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project based in Canada, warned that the case exposed a deeper structural problem.

“If a court decision exists to return a Uyghur to China,” Tohti said, “then it means no Uyghur in Turkey is truly safe.”

Uyghur activist Burhan Uluyol also condemned the detention in a widely shared social media statement, describing the arrest of a breastfeeding mother and a newborn as a test of law, conscience, and humanity, and urging Turkish authorities to uphold Turkey’s historical tradition of protecting the oppressed.

Release Following Legal and Public Pressure

After approximately one week in detention, and following sustained legal challenges and public pressure, Müeyesser Ali and her one-month-old baby Enes Abdullah were released by the Turkish Migration Administration.

Human rights defenders welcomed the decision but warned that it does not address the systemic vulnerability of Uyghur refugees in Turkey, many of whom continue to face arbitrary detention and deportation risks despite holding legal status.

Uyghurs Increasingly Unsafe in Türkiye

The case comes amid growing international concern over the safety of Uyghurs in Turkey. Last month, Human Rights Watch published a report titled “Protected No More: Uyghurs in Türkiye”, documenting how Uyghurs are no longer safe in the country.

The report concluded that Türkiye should not be considered a safe country for Uyghurs, even for those holding residence permits or international protection status. Human Rights Watch urged other governments to take this reality into account when assessing asylum and resettlement applications involving Uyghurs who have passed through or lived in Turkey, noting that such legal statuses are increasingly insecure.

To date, no Uyghur diaspora organization In Turkiye has released an official statement regarding the incident. While a few individuals publicly celebrated the family’s release, many organizations appear reluctant to speak out, fearing that strong public criticism could draw the displeasure of Turkish authorities, despite being allowed to continue certain activities.