After 53 days, Turkish university director Ismet Oszelic has been released from Sungai Buloh Prison today, after he gets his refugee card from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The 59-year-old academician's release came after almost three weeks after his family had posted bail of RM4,000 on Jan 3.

He was charged at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court last month with obstructing a public officer from the Immigration Department from seizing his passport.

His lawyer Muhammad Faizal Faiz Mohd Hasani, when contacted by Malaysiakini today confirmed Ismet's release.

He had arranged for him to get his UNHCR card today, following his family's application last week.

Muhammad Faizal said his firm would write to the Attorney-General's Chambers to submit a representation (to consider dropping the charge).

“We are also considering to file a judicial review application on Ismet family's instructions to quash the Immigration Department's act to revoke his visa, a day after he was arrested,” he said.

“His visa was supposed to end in November this year before this was revoked,” he added.

Muhammad Faizal said they applied for his release and were considering to file a judicial review as a result of Article 5 of the Federal Constitution regarding the liberty of a person, as despite not being a Malaysian citizen, anyone here in the country is accorded the same protection.

The lawyer said Ismet and his family got to know of a letter issued by the Turkish government last month that Ismet's passport had been cancelled.

This followed the failed coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The failed coup last July resulted in Erdogan imposing a clampdown and this saw over 82,000 arrests and the closure of more than 2,000 universities and colleges linked to Fethullah Gulen, an imam and political figure who Erdogan alleged was responsible for the coup attempt.

Fethullah is now in the United States, while Ismet is believed to be branded by the Turkish government to be linked to Fethullah.

As his passport was revoked by the Turkish authorities, which the Malaysian Immigration department got to know, they went to the residence of Ismet's son last month.

It was reported earlier this month that Ismet's family was worried about his safety following his arrest on Dec 13, after he objected to them seizing his passport. To make matters worse, his lawyers said the academician was denied his medication.

Ismet's family was worried following earlier reports that two Turkish academician who were teaching in Malaysia, went missing, only to find reports in Turkey that they had been brought back to Turkey with the help of Malaysia's Immigration Department.

Asked to comment on Ismet's medical condition, Muhammad Faiz said following his law firm's correspondence to the magistrate, the academician was allowed to see the prison doctor the last 14 days.

“They gave him painkillers and not his medication,” he said.

“As a result of being released today, Ismet is now with his son, who is a PhD scholar,” he said.