Citizenship Put to the Test: Between Ankara's Influence and Enforced Disappearance — An Open Letter to President Erdoğan
Mr President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
I write to you today neither as a supporter nor as an opponent, nor to rehearse political positions or reopen ideological disputes. I write instead to place before you an urgent humanitarian and human-rights matter—one that goes to the very heart of the Turkish state's responsibility towards its citizens and to what citizenship truly means when it is put to the test.
We are dealing with Turkish citizens facing complex and deeply troubling circumstances that cannot simply be reduced to security files or treated as passing political incidents. These are cases of enforced disappearance and detention that raise grave concerns for their lives, physical safety, and fundamental human rights—rights guaranteed by international conventions as well as national law.
590 Days Behind Bars: The Pain of Detention in the UAE
Turkish citizen Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi now stands at the threshold of an exceptionally painful chapter. Nearly 590 days have passed since his disappearance and detention following his transfer into the custody of the United Arab Emirates.
That figure is not merely a count of days. It represents a prolonged period of forced deprivation of liberty, separation from his family and children, and the absence of clear and publicly known legal and procedural safeguards that should protect every person subjected to such circumstances.
The place where Abdul Rahman is being held is known, and the authority holding him is known and identifiable. His family and those following his case are therefore no longer asking the conventional question: Where is Abdul Rahman?
The more fundamental question now confronting the conscience of all concerned is this:
What has the Turkish state done to secure the freedom of its citizen?
Diplomacy, Relations and Influence: A Test of What Citizenship Really Means
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates today maintain close and extensive political, diplomatic and economic relations, with direct channels of communication at the highest levels between the two countries.
Against this backdrop, a legitimate question arises: if a Turkish citizen is being detained by a state with which Turkey enjoys such extensive interests and strong relations, what prevents Ankara from using its political weight and diplomatic influence to bring this detention to an end and secure his safe return home?
Mr President, we are not asking you to agree with Abdul Rahman's political views. Nor are we asking the Turkish government to endorse his ideas or positions.
Our sole and fundamental request is that he be treated as what he is: a Turkish citizen who holds the nationality of the Republic of Türkiye.
The diplomatic and legal protection that states extend to their citizens should never be conditional upon their political views, nor upon the extent to which they agree or disagree with the government of the day.
Uncertainty in Libya: The Disappearance of Fathi and His Wife Deepens the Concern
In a related and no less alarming case, the disappearance of Turkish citizen Mahmoud Fathi and his wife adds another layer of anguish and concern.
For nearly a month, Mahmoud Fathi and his wife have been forcibly disappeared in Tripoli, Libya, while their family endures an agonising wait for any information that might reassure them that the couple are alive and safe, or shed light on their unknown fate.
Here, an important political and security reality cannot be overlooked: Libya does not lie beyond the sphere of Turkish influence, nor is it a country in which Ankara lacks channels of communication.
On the contrary, Turkey maintains significant political, diplomatic and security influence and presence there, alongside regular and direct channels of communication with various Libyan authorities. Yet more than a month has passed, and two Turkish citizens remain completely unaccounted for.
Questions Left Hanging Between Silence and Families Waiting
Silence and prolonged uncertainty concerning citizens facing such circumstances in a country that maintains a strong partnership with Turkey cannot become normal or acceptable.
Where are Mahmoud Fathi and his wife? Who is holding them? Are they alive and in good health? What practical and diplomatic steps are the relevant Turkish authorities taking to locate them and secure their release?
Every day that passes beneath this veil of uncertainty brings another day of fear and psychological torment for their families, who continue to wait in the hope of receiving news that will put their hearts at ease.
A Shared Fate: The State's Duty Towards All Its Citizens
We therefore face two cases involving Turkish citizens bound by a common predicament.
The first is Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who has endured approximately 590 days of disappearance and detention.
The second concerns Mahmoud Fathi and his wife, who have faced enforced disappearance in Libya for nearly a month.
The circumstances and precise details of the two cases may differ, as may the countries and parties involved. Yet one fundamental fact unites them all: they are Turkish citizens.
The state and its institutions are supposed to be the first and final refuge of citizens when, beyond their country's borders, they are unable to protect themselves. It is precisely in such moments that citizenship acquires its deepest meaning.
Urgent Demands and the Need for Action
In light of the above, Mr President, we appeal to you for urgent and decisive action commensurate with the gravity of their suffering:
- Use every diplomatic and political channel available to the Turkish state to bring the detention of Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi to an end and secure his immediate and safe return to Türkiye.
- Activate Turkey's close relationships and direct influence in Libya to establish without delay the whereabouts of Mahmoud Fathi and his wife, confirm their safety, disclose their fate, and work seriously towards securing their release and return home.
- Ensure that the families of these citizens are kept continuously and transparently informed of the efforts and measures being undertaken by the relevant Turkish authorities to bring their ordeal to an end.
The Strength of a State Lies in Protecting Its Citizens
A citizen may disagree with his government over political visions and priorities, just as a government may disagree with the choices or views of a citizen. But the rights that flow from citizenship and nationality should neither disappear nor be diminished at the very moment when a citizen most urgently needs the protection of his state.
The strength of states and their regional and international standing are not measured solely by the extent of their political or military influence. Their strength is revealed most clearly when one of their citizens is placed in danger and the state mobilises its diplomatic weight, influence and institutions to protect that citizen and bring him or her safely home.
Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi needs Türkiye's intervention.
Mahmoud Fathi and his wife need Türkiye's protection.
Their families need answers—and decisive action.
And so, Mr President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the question remains:
When will Türkiye act to protect its citizens and secure their freedom? When will this prolonged tragedy finally come to an end?
Five hundred and ninety days in detention is far too long.
A full month with no knowledge of a person's fate is far too long as well.
Do not allow enforced disappearance to become a reality met with silence.