Malaysia deports Turkish nationals accused of coup link

aljazeera

Turkey temporarily suspended over 9,000 police personnel last month for alleged links to Gulen [EPA]

Malaysia has deported three Turkish nationals wanted by Ankara for alleged links to a US-based cleric accused of being behind a failed coupagainst the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Malaysia's national police chief of Khalid Abu Bakar tweeted that the men were "deported back to Ankara" on Thursday night, despite concerns from rights groups who fear Malaysia is bowing to pressure from Turkey.

Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan were arrested last week under a security law which allows detention without trial for 28 days. Two days later Turkish academic Ismet Ozcelik was also arrested - ostensibly for national security reasons.

"Police investigations showed they were involved in FETO activities and are wanted by Turkey," Khalid said in a separate statement.

Turkish authorities allege last year's coup attempt against Erdogan was masterminded by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Khalid said the men's travel documents had been cancelled by Ankara and so they were regarded as illegal immigrants in Malaysia.

@PDRMsia confirmed that Turkish Nationals; MTURGAY KARAMAN; IHSAN ASLAN and ISMET OZCELIK was deported back to Ankara last night.

The deportation of Karaman and Ozcelik has been termed "illegal and an abuse of power" by Rosli Dahlan, the lawyer who represted the duo following the arrests.

While Malaysian authorities did not notify the men's families of the deportation, Karaman's wife, Ayse Gul, said she was warned by a friend on Thursday night of her husband's situation.

On Friday morning, after getting through to a police official, she received confirmation of Karaman's deportation and was asked to pick up his belongings from the police station.

Ainnurul Aisyah Yunus, Asalan's wife, learnt of her husband's deportation after a journalist pointed her to Khalid's tweet confirming the move.