ANKARA — Alnoud Alsaeedi, 23, who along with her four sisters — Sara (22), Noora (20), Maryam (15) and Aisha (12) — fled to Turkey, told Al-Monitor on Thursday that they are fearful of being forcibly returned to Kuwait weeks after what they describe as escaping sexual abuse, violence and death threats in their country of origin.

In a video that went viral on Twitter this week, Alnoud, the older sister, pleaded for help from civic and human rights groups to stop their potential forced return to their home country, saying that they were about to be forcibly returned to their family.

“We are in a very very dangerous situation. … Our life is threatened,” she is heard tearfully saying in the video.

SaveAlnoudAndHerSisters Five Kuwaiti sisters who are stuck in Turkey demanding help, their situation is urgent!!🛑 pic.twitter.com/3c9YHpvcMm

— Marceline🏳️‍🌈 (@marce3ltn) January 16, 2023
Following the social media campaign and pressure from local and international civic groups, Turkish authorities communicated with the five sisters likely in a bid to review their situation. In her video, Alnoud said that she was “deeply sure” that they were going to be deported to Kuwait. The Kuwaiti authorities have not commented publicly on the case.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Alnoud recounted that she and her four sisters fled Kuwait on Jan. 10 with the hope of finding a “safer life” in Turkey after what she described as living under systematic “sexual abuse” and domestic violence at the hand of their brother.

Asked if they requested help from Kuwaiti authorities, Alnoud told Al-Monitor that she and her sisters received “death” threats when they did. She stopped short of elaborating from whom.

On Thursday, Turkish authorities took two of her minor sisters — Maryam and Aisha — she said.

The Alsaeedi sisters are also fearful of their relatives who live in Turkey, Alnoud tweeted this week. She said that after communicating with UNHCR, staying in Turkey may not be the best option for the group.

ال UNHCR رجعوا تواصلوا معاي وجو ووضحوا لي إننا بنكون تحت حمايتهم لو طلبنا لجوء لتركيا وهالشيء بيكون سيء لنا بعدة جوانب معروفه وجانب ثاني مهمممم وهو تواجد أغلب أهلي وقرايبي الي عند سكن هنا بتركيا يعني ما أشرح لكم خطورة وضعي أكثر من جذي

— Alnoud Alsaeedi العنود السعيدي (@1idhwa) January 16, 2023
The UNHCR representative confirmed to Al-Monitor on Wednesday that the organization is aware of the Alsaeedi sisters’ situation and has provided advice on asylum procedures in Turkey.

“Following the video five Kuwaiti sisters shared on social media claiming that they were at risk because of their family, [Turkish] government agencies as well as the UNHCR … are closely monitoring the situation and well-being of the people involved,” Selin Unal, UNHCR spokeswoman in Turkey, told Al-Monitor without elaborating, citing privacy concerns.

The case has attracted international support and the attention of human rights activists. “Turkey should not allow Alnoud, @1idhwa and her 4 sisters to be forcibly returned to #Kuwait. The sisters, who said they fled family violence, should be given an opportunity to seek asylum,” Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director of Human Rights Watch, tweeted this week.

Under Turkish and international law, the Alsaeedi sisters’ story needs to be vetted by authorities before they are granted permission to stay in Turkey.

Metin Corabatir, former UNHCR spokesman in Turkey who currently heads the Research Center on Asylum and Migration, said the Kuwaiti authorities’ incapacity to protect them or negligence must also be established in order for their appeal to be accepted.

Domestic violence can constitute a base for an international protection application depending on a case under the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees, Corabatir added.

“There have been people who have applied over these sorts of issues and been accepted in this way,” he told Al-Monitor, adding that several women and children who ran away from forced marriages or honor killings from countries that cannot protect these people were given refuge in Turkey.

Corabatir said Turkey’s Family Ministry handles the protection of minor asylum seekers under Turkish law.

Marita Kassis contributed to this report from Beirut

Source: al monitor