April 26, 2018 – The Alliance for Shared Values denounces the kidnapping of Mustafa Ceyhan, a Turkish citizen in Azerbaijan, on the morning of April 26, 2018, just as he was leaving a courthouse.

When he was kidnapped, either by Turkish officials or by Azerbaijani officials working at the direction of Turkey, Ceyhan had just completed a one-year unjust sentence in an Azerbaijani prison on charges of illegally crossing the border to Azerbaijan.

We are deeply concerned that he will be illegally transferred to Turkey, where there is a high possibility for torture and ill treatment. As Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented, prisoners in Turkey are being subject to extremely harsh treatment.

Abduction cases such as this one have been increasing at an alarming rate in the past year at the direction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Critics of Erdogan around the world can no longer feel safe. We urge the international community to take action against these efforts and pressure Erdogan to end his extrajudicial activities around the world.

About Alliance for Shared Values

The Alliance for Shared Values (AFSV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a voice for dialogue organizations affiliated with Hizmet, a civil society movement inspired by prominent preacher and peace advocate Fethullah Gülen. Based in New York, the Alliance strives to promote peace and to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against any or all ethnic, cultural and religious communities. To learn more about the Alliance please visit www.afsv.org.

Media contact:

Tel: +1.212.682.4278 or media@afsv.org

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