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February 01, 2026 – Turkey/Iran –
Iranian-born journalist and human rights advocate Kaveh Taheri has been detained by Turkish authorities, sparking urgent calls from press freedom groups to secure his release and halt deportation proceedings that could send him back to Iran, where he could face imprisonment or worse. Taheri was arrested on January 26, 2026, in Sakarya while on a bus en route to a visa appointment at the French Consulate in Istanbul, according to his lawyer and international media watchdogs.
Taheri is currently being held at the Kocaeli Removal Center, where Turkish authorities issued a deportation order on January 28 on vague “national security” grounds without setting a date for a court hearing, his legal team says. He is recognised as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and was travelling with valid documentation for a consulate visit when detained, prompting rights advocates to denounce the arrest as arbitrary and unlawful.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Turkish authorities to release Taheri immediately and cease deportation efforts, warning that returning him to Iran could expose him to severe reprisals, including imprisonment for his reporting on corruption and human rights issues. CPJ’s regional director stressed that Turkey must observe its international obligations to protect refugees and allow Taheri to seek safety in a third country, highlighting the absence of due process in his detention.
Taheri’s detention has lifted the lid on a wider climate of concern among Iranian exiles in Turkey, who fear that Ankara’s policies are increasingly influenced by regional diplomatic considerations and pressure to maintain stability with Tehran. Before his detention, Taheri had lived in Turkey for more than a decade, reporting on politics and human rights while repeatedly expressing anxiety about potential threats to asylum seekers and dissidents in the country.
The journalist’s family has voiced deep distress over his arrest. His sister described receiving a brief message from Taheri during his apprehension that left them fearing for his safety, particularly given the harsh treatment he previously endured in Iranian custody. Taheri was detained in Iran in 2012, where he later said he was tortured and coerced into a false confession before ultimately leaving the country.
As the situation unfolds, Turkish authorities have not publicly commented on the case. Lawyers for Taheri report that past deportation attempts were previously blocked by courts, but they now face mounting administrative pressure and uncertainty about when or if he will appear before a judge.
Human rights observers and press freedom advocates are urging a transparent judicial review and immediate release, underscoring broader concerns about the security and legal protections afforded to journalists and refugees in Turkey.
Reference –
CPJ calls on Turkey to release Iranian journalist amid fears of deportation
