Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Jim O'Callaghan TD
Department of Justice
51 St Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
D02 HK52

15/08/2026

Re: Urgent Request to Halt Deportation of Sami Kupiszeski

Dear Minister O'Callaghan,

We urge the immediate halt of deportation proceedings against Sami Kupiszeski, a political activist facing removal to Türkiye. His return would expose him to persecution for his anti-imperialist activism in a state with a documented record of torture and systematic suppression of political dissent.

Türkiye's Record on Torture and Political Repression

The UN Committee against Torture has confirmed that allegations of torture and ill-treatment occur "in a generalized manner, notably in detention centres," and that where prosecutions occur, torture is "frequently classified as other crimes." The Committee has also documented torture and sexual violence against LGBTI+ individuals in police custody.

Since 2016, over 160,000 people have been investigated for alleged terrorism offences, with more than 120,000 convicted—including judges, civil servants, teachers, military personnel, and journalists. Counter-terrorism laws are systematically weaponised to silence political dissent. Academics, lawyers, and human rights defenders who voice opposition are dismissed, detained, or banned from travel; over 7,000 academics were expelled, 14 universities were shut down, and many had their passports revoked.

The European Commission's 2025 Report confirmed that "the overall human rights situation in Türkiye has deteriorated" and that "serious concerns about the continuous deterioration of democratic standards, rule of law, judicial independence and respect for fundamental rights have not been addressed." Türkiye ranks 159th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index and has 1,446 non-implemented European Court of Human Rights judgments.

Our Demands

1. Immediately halt the deportation of Sami Kupiszeski. To return him would make Ireland complicit in violations of international law and expose him to torture and persecution.
2. Stop deporting political activists to Türkiye and other unsafe countries. Ireland must not act as an agent for repressive states.
3. Stop the weaponisation of asylum policy. Decisions must be based on genuine protection needs and international law—not diplomatic convenience.
4. Violating the Genocide Convention: open an independent inquiry into all dual citizens of the Zionist colony who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces. The 75 IDF soldiers currently enjoying impunity on Irish soil demand accountability for their role in the genocide in Gaza.

The lives of political activists, the integrity of our asylum system, and Ireland's reputation as a defender of international law are at stake. We look forward to your immediate action.

References

1. UN Committee against Torture, Follow-up Report on Türkiye, 2025 – documents "generalized" torture in detention and failure to investigate allegations.
2. UN Committee against Torture Report (2025) – documents torture and sexual violence against LGBTI+ individuals in police custody.
3. Human Rights Watch, World Report 2025 – over 160,000 investigated for terrorism since 2016; over 7,000 academics expelled; 14 universities closed.
4. European Commission 2025 Türkiye Report – confirmed deterioration in human rights, democracy, rule of law, and judicial independence.
5. Reporters Without Borders, World Press Freedom Index 2025 – Türkiye ranked 159th out of 180 countries.
6. European Court of Human Rights – 1,446 non-implemented judgments against Türkiye, second highest in Europe.