The Human Rights and Legal Affairs Directorate of HÜDA PAR has issued a strong condemnation following the death of Khasan Umarov, an Uzbek refugee who died in Turkish custody on June 18, 2025.

In a statement released Thursday, the party accused Turkish authorities of negligence and systemic failure in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

Khasan Umarov fled political and religious persecution in Uzbekistan in 2014 and settled in Türkiye, where he built a lawful life with his family. He gained local recognition for his voluntary efforts during the devastating February 2023 earthquakes, participating in rescue operations in Hatay province.

Umarov was detained on November 14, 2024, based on an Interpol warrant. He was held in a Removal Centre despite reportedly suffering from severe heart conditions. According to HÜDA PAR, repeated requests for urgent medical treatment and surgery were ignored by authorities.

“Despite repeated health applications and emergency surgery calls, he was neither evacuated nor provided access to adequate healthcare,” the organization stated. Umarov eventually underwent surgery, but too late to save his life.

HÜDA PAR’s statement criticized the Directorate of Migration Management and other responsible institutions for what it called a “preventable death,” pointing to a broader pattern of abuse affecting refugees—particularly Uzbeks—within Türkiye.

“This death is not isolated,” the party said, citing rising instances of “detention, refoulement, repression, and deportation” targeting Uzbek nationals.

The organization called for urgent reforms to Türkiye’s refugee and asylum policies and pledged continued advocacy for justice and human rights. As of publication, Turkish authorities have not responded to the allegations. (ILKHA)