NAIROBI, Kenya — Amnesty International Kenya has raised alarm over the arrest of a Turkish national and his family, warning that any attempt to return them to Türkiye could violate Kenya’s international legal obligations and expose them to serious human rights abuses.
In an urgent alert issued, Amnesty said Mustafa Güngör—arrested alongside his wife Zeliha, their daughters Seniha Betül and Zeynep, and his in-laws Zümrüt and Salim—faces a “serious risk of refoulement” if handed over to Turkish authorities.
The organisation cautioned that Güngör could be subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, or other ill-treatment upon return.
Amnesty said it had “reliably learnt” that Turkish authorities sought Güngör’s arrest through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request to Kenya’s Office of the Attorney General.
The rights group urged Kenyan authorities to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, ensure due process, and guarantee access to lawyers, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the courts.
“Kenya has an obligation under international law not to return anyone to a country where they face persecution or harm,” Amnesty said, calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other authorities to protect the family’s rights.
The organisation said its officers were at the DCI’s Upper Hill offices alongside the family’s lawyers.
Non-refoulement—a cornerstone of international refugee and human rights law—prohibits states from returning individuals to places where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious violations.
Kenya is bound by the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Convention Against Torture, and regional instruments, and the principle is also reflected in Article 2(5) and (6) of the Constitution, which incorporates international law into domestic law.
The case revives scrutiny of Kenya’s handling of cross-border security and extradition matters, particularly involving foreign nationals accused or sought abroad.
Human rights groups have in recent years criticised what they describe as opaque arrests and removals that bypass judicial oversight, allegations the government has previously denied.
Amnesty urged Kenyan authorities to allow continued access to UNHCR to assess any protection needs and to ensure that any decisions are subject to independent judicial scrutiny.
The organisation said the welfare of the children and extended family must be prioritised in line with Kenya’s obligations under international and domestic law.
The developments come amid heightened global attention to state cooperation on security and migration, with rights groups warning that accelerated cross-border actions risk eroding safeguards.
How Kenyan authorities handle the Güngör case is likely to be closely watched as a test of the country’s commitment to constitutionalism, judicial oversight and its international human rights obligations.
