Committee to Protect JournalistsVerified account

Yesterday, Mosaed told CPJ he had been detained by Turkish border police after crossing into Turkey at the eastern city of Van. Mosaed said he fled Iran after being summoned to begin serving his jail sentence in two days’ time.

Mosaed told CPJ that the Turkish police took him to Ozalp Devlet Hastanesi hospital for medical treatment, and that the police told him they would soon hand him back to Iranian border control.

“We believe that Mohammad Mosaed has a well-founded fear of persecution should he be returned to Iran,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Sherif Mansour.

“We urge Turkish authorities to respect their obligations under international law; to refrain from deporting Mosaed; to consider any request for political asylum that Mosaed may make; and to assure Mosaed’s rights are protected through due process of law," said Mansour.