Human rights and humanitarian organisations have welcomed the release of Mustafa Güngör, a Turkish refugee legally residing in Kenya, following ten days in the custody of the Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit. However, they have called on the Kenyan government to ensure his continued safety and protection under national and international law.
Güngör, who has lived in Kenya for over 15 years without any criminal record, was arrested with his family on 20 December 2025. His family was later released, while he remained in detention pending investigations initiated at the request of the Turkish government over an alleged Facebook post from 2018. His lawyers argued that his extended detention without formal charges or clear evidence violated both Kenyan and international legal standards.
“His prolonged pre-trial detention away from his family and community was unjust and disproportionate,” said Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International Kenya. “It violated Kenya’s obligations under international law, which require detainees to be promptly charged or released.”
Faith Odhiambo of the Law Society of Kenya emphasised that Güngör’s case is not an isolated incident. “This echoes previous instances where Turkish refugees in Kenya were arbitrarily detained and forcibly returned to Turkey under the pretext of counterterrorism,” she said.
Examples of past incidents cited include the May 2021 abduction of Selahaddin Gülen, nephew of preacher Fethullah Gülen, who was forcibly returned to Türkiye despite a Kenyan court order prohibiting his extradition. In October 2024, four registered Turkish refugees—Mustafa Genç, Öztürk Uzun, Alparslan Taçi, and Hüseyin Yesilsu—were abducted in Nairobi and sent to Türkiye on Ankara’s request. As of December 2025, their status remains unknown.
Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, and Human Rights Solidarity have called on the Kenyan government to cooperate with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to guarantee Güngör’s protection and safety. They further urged the government to publicly reassure the Turkish refugee community that they are protected under the UN Refugee Convention and Kenya’s Refugee Act from transnational repression, violence, or refoulement.
The organisations also urged Kenya to review and publicly affirm its obligations to uphold international human rights standards and protect refugees on its soil. “Continued facilitation of transnational repression of persons fleeing persecution undermines the integrity of Kenya’s legal system and its moral authority,” the groups said.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has previously emphasised Kenya’s non-refoulement obligations following the forced removal of refugees in 2024. Human rights advocates argue that Kenya must now demonstrate that it remains a custodian of human rights in East Africa.
“Once again, the arrest and detention of Mustafa Güngör has thrust Kenya’s human rights record into the international spotlight,” Houghton said. “The government must uphold its legal and moral obligations and respect the fundamental rights of everyone within its borders.”
The release of Güngör is a relief for human rights organisations and the refugee community, but activists insist that sustained action is necessary to prevent further arbitrary detentions and ensure that all refugees in Kenya are safe from politically motivated persecution.
For his part, Güngör has been reunited with his family, though the advocacy groups continue to monitor his situation closely, urging the government to provide guarantees that he will not face further harassment or threats of refoulement.
