Critical situation for Kurdish asylum-seeking couple in Turkey: Risk of deportation to Iran
Hengaw – Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Leila Azizi and Naser Mahmoudi, a Kurdish political asylum-seeking couple detained by Turkish security forces ten months ago, remain in precarious conditions inside a temporary refugee camp and face imminent risk of deportation to Iran.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Leila Azizi, 36, from Saqqez, and her husband Naser Mahmoudi, 38, from Bukan — both known for their political activism — are being held under harsh conditions at the Ağrı refugee camp in Turkey’s Ağrı Province.
Speaking to Hengaw, Roya Azizi, Leila’s sister, described her psychological distress after nearly a year in detention and the growing fear of deportation. Leila is reportedly suffering from physical health problems due to a lack of basic sanitary facilities in the camp.
Leila and Naser are former members of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan and had previously lived in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Their political background places them at serious risk of persecution if returned to Iran, where they could face harsh and inhumane sentences from the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus.
The couple was arrested by Turkish police in Tatvan, a city in Bitlis Province, and transferred to Ağrı camp, where they have remained for the past ten months. Despite the duration of their detention, Turkish authorities have yet to resolve their case, and the threat of deportation remains imminent.
Hengaw expresses deep concern over the potential deportation of this Kurdish couple to Iran, where they are likely to face torture and severe punishment. Citing international conventions, Hengaw calls on the Turkish government to immediately halt the deportation process and uphold the rights and protections guaranteed to refugees.
The organization also urges international human rights bodies, especially those responsible for refugee protection, to urgently intervene and prevent the forced return of Leila Azizi and Naser Mahmoudi to Iran.
