Malaysia’s Mahathir says asylum seeker family deported to Turkey on police advice

The premier said Malaysia was not aware of any risks faced by Arif Komis or his family on their return

Rights groups have criticised Kuala Lumpur for deporting the family to Turkey, saying they face the threat of human rights violations

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: AP

Published: 9:54pm, 30 Aug 2019Updated: 9:55pm, 30 Aug 2019

Malaysia on Friday confirmed that it had deported a Turkish asylum seeker registered with the United Nations, along with his family, after police said he should not be in the country.

Rights groups have criticised Malaysia for deporting Arif Komis and his family to Turkey this week, saying they face the threat of human rights violations over Komis’ alleged membership in a Turkish “faith-based group”.

Komis, who taught chemistry at an international school in Kuala Lumpur, and his family were deported on the advice of the police, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said.

“They had proof that led to their view that he should not be in the country,” Mahathir told a news conference, without elaborating on the police reasons.

A member of Mahathir’s cabinet, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad, later said that police had evidence to show that Komis “was involved” in terrorism.

The Malaysian arm of rights group Amnesty International said Komis was detained by police along with his family on Wednesday and deported to Turkey the next day.