Turkey granted asylum application of a young Iranian couple whose photos in tears were circulated in Turkish media on Monday indicating they were sent back home by Turkish police.
According to the early reports, they apprehended by Turkish police in a group of 51 illegal migrants to their country although they begged the police in tears, saying if they were caught by Iranian officials the young man would be executed by hanging and the young woman might lose her arm.
Adana police conducted an operation one month ago based on a tip that a group of illegal migrants had entered Turkey at the border in Van province and that they would go to İstanbul through Adana.
Two minibuses were stopped on the highway, and fake identity cards carried by 51 people, including 31 Afghans, 18 Pakistanis and 2 Iranians, were found by the local police.
When police told them they would be deported to their countries, the young Iranian couple started to cry and beg, saying they would be severely punished by Iranian authorities if they went back.
The young woman claimed that her arm would be cut off because she was not wearing a headscarf and her hair was dyed, and that her boyfriend would be executed by hanging because he had tattoos all over his body.
However later on, Mehmet Tüm, a deputy from Republican People’s Party, shared information on their current situation saying they were given the right to refuge in May.
The earlier news sparked concerns among Turkish readers, who launched a campaign on change.org to stop the deportation of the Iranian couple. Even though they were sent back home, the campaign is still receiving signatures, currently totaling 5,000.