AROPL Members Detained Under Harsh Conditions in Turkey

Ağrı Camp, Turkey – April 1, 2025 – The persecution of members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Turkey continues, as three individuals—Sajjad Jafari, Ali Lakzaeian, and Mansour Dehghan—are currently being detained,  under harrowing conditions, on charges of "spreading a new religion" and "putting up promotional posters.” Following their initial detention in Isparta, the three were transferred between multiple camps before being placed in the Ağrı camp, located near the Iranian border. The conditions they are enduring represent a grave violation of their human rights and further illustrate the targeted persecution they face due to their faith.

These men were among the 104 members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light who were arbitrarily detained in 2023 after attempting to seek asylum in Turkey. On May 24, 2023, the group traveled to the Turkish-Bulgarian border to request international protection, fleeing religious persecution in their home countries. However, instead of being granted access to the asylum process, Turkish authorities apprehended them and transferred them to detention facilities. They were held in harsh conditions for five months before being released following significant international pressure, including intervention by the United Nations and various human rights organizations. Despite this, Turkish authorities have continued to target members of the community, as seen in the recent arrest and detention of Mansour, Sajjad, and Ali.

These believers are now facing charges for spreading their religious beliefs, a fundamental right that should be protected under both international law and Turkey’s own legal commitments. Authorities have taken extra steps to unjustly persecute these members by fabricating a case against Ali Lakzaeian, leading to the revocation of his residency papers.

According to testimony from inside the camp, the three men have been subjected to relentless mistreatment. They have been repeatedly placed in facilities with hostile Sunni Muslim detainees, many of whom have openly harassed them, calling them apostates and questioning their religious practices. At one point, they were confined in a room with Daesh and ISIS members, creating a constant state of fear and insecurity, making it impossible for them to sleep or feel safe.

Camp authorities have done nothing to protect them from harassment. Instead, they have worsened their suffering by intentionally moving them between different facilities every ten to twenty days, causing severe mental and emotional distress. The detainees report that camp administrators have entirely ignored their presence, failing to address their concerns or even formally acknowledge why they are being held. In the fifty to sixty days since their transfer, they have not been given any explanation or support.

This systematic abuse is a direct continuation of the harassment they faced upon their initial detention in Isparta, where authorities accused them of illegal activities, despite them only being involved in peaceful missionary work, such as distributing literature and promoting their faith. The members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light have a fundamental right to express their religious beliefs freely, as enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Additionally, their mistreatment violates several other articles of the Declaration, including Article 5, which prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and Article 9, which protects individuals from arbitrary detention. However, the Turkish government continues to target them, disregarding international law and its own human rights obligations.

The situation is now reaching a critical point. With Ağrı Camp being located just half an hour from the Iranian border, the detainees fear that Turkish authorities could forcibly deport them to Iran at any moment. Such an action would place them in extreme danger, as the Iranian regime has declared members of their faith heretics and sentenced others to lengthy prison terms or worse.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light urgently calls on the international community, human rights organizations, and relevant UN bodies to intervene. Immediate action is needed to prevent their forced deportation, ensure their safety, and hold Turkish authorities accountable for their blatant disregard for religious freedom. These individuals must be released from their unjust detention, and Turkey must be pressured to uphold its commitments to human rights and religious liberty.