A court in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Tuesday ordered the unconditional release of Turkish refugee Mustafa Güngör, who had been arrested following a request from Ankara and faced deportation, the Stockholm Center for Freedom reported.
Güngör had been detained over allegations by Turkish authorities that he has links to the faith-based Gülen movement, despite his registered refugee status in Kenya.
In a statement on X, Amnesty International’s Kenya chapter announced the court order, saying Güngör had been arrested over a years-old social media post, describing the case as “a clear attempt at transnational repression.”
Mustafa Güngör’s unconditional release is a win for justice, but the fact that he was ever detained is a stain on our commitment to refugee protection. His arrest was never "right" it was a clear attempt at transnational repression triggered by foreign pressure over a years-old… pic.twitter.com/bJz19L4t73
— Amnesty Kenya (@AmnestyKenya) February 3, 2026
The Gülen movement is a faith-based group that Ankara has targeted in an unprecedented crackdown over the past decade.
The movement, inspired by the views of the late Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, is renowned worldwide for its contributions to education, social welfare and interfaith dialogue.
The Turkish government, however, labeled the group as a “terrorist organization” in May 2016, a designation not recognized by the United States, the European Union or major international bodies.
The government accuses the group of orchestrating a failed coup the same year, a claim the movement strongly denies.
Güngör was arrested on December 20, despite being a registered refugee in Kenya. His wife, their two daughters and his in-laws, all of whom were detained along with him, were released shortly afterwards, while he remained in custody.
He was released on December 30 on a personal bond, allowing him to remain free without paying bail while court proceedings continued. The court’s ruling on Tuesday lifted all remaining conditions on his release.
Güngör’s case has raised concerns of refoulement following the forcible return of four Turkish nationals from Kenya in 2024 despite being under the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The move drew widespread criticism, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Since the coup attempt Erdoğan’s long arm has reached tens of thousands of Turkish citizens abroad. From surveillance through diplomatic missions and pro-government diaspora organizations to the denial of consular services and outright intimidation and illegal renditions, the Turkish government has employed a wide range of tactics against its critics overseas.
The campaign has mostly relied on renditions, in which Turkey and its National Intelligence Organization (MİT) persuade other states to hand over individuals without due process. Victims of such operations have reported several human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, torture and ill-treatment. MİT has acknowledged conducting operations for the forcible return of more than 100 people accused of links to the Gülen movement.