Turkish asylum seeker deported as police had evidence, says PM
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the police had basis to detain and deport Turkish chemistry teacher Arif Komis and his family members.
"They had evidence to make them form the view that these people should not stay in the country," he told a press conference after chairing Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting today.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the police had basis to detain and deport Turkish chemistry teacher Arif Komis and his family members.
"They had evidence to make them form the view that these people should not stay in the country," he told a press conference after chairing Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting today.
Malaysia has been slammed for deporting the Turkish asylum-seeker back to his country today. There were concerns raised that Arif may be tortured or even be a victim of enforced disappearance in his own country.
When pressed about this, Mahathir asked: "(Do) you have the evidence of the torture ?"
"I don't know about torture in Turkey. But are we going to accuse Turkey of torturing people?" he asked.
Arif, a chemistry teacher at an international school in Kuala Lumpur, was deported together with his wife and four daughters.
Critics had questioned why Malaysia sent home a Turkish who was registered as an asylum-seeker with the UN. They contrasted this with the country's refusal to return controversial preacher Zakir Naik to India.
When asked about this, Mahathir retorted: "I don't know if they had made hate speech (like Zakir) or not."
"The thing is there is no report in the press about him (Arif) making a speech that is stirring up hatred and all that," he said.
"In Zakir Naik's case, where are we going to send him? (If) you can get him a place, tell me," he said.
The Turkish government claimed that Arif held a senior position in terrorist group Fetullah Terrorist Organization (Feto), reported Bernama tonight.
Feto and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen were said to have orchestrated the coup against Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.
Ankara also accused Feto of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Malaysia has reportedly previously arrested and deported Turkish citizens accused of having ties with Feto.
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