By: Aminata Sameena Sesay
The Sierra Leone Embassy in Turkey has in a press release dated 9th November denied the deportation of 40 Sierra Leoneans from the country, referring to the information on social media as baseless.
It however confirmed the deportation of seven Sierra Leoneans who reportedly violated different laws of their host country.
According to the press statement the embassy saw the unfounded information as a calculated attempt by “unscrupulous individuals” to create panic among Sierra Leoneans residing in Turkey and their families in Sierra Leone.
The embassy further clarified that the government of Turkey is currently on an operation of clamping down law breakers like those involved in drugs. The Turkish government is also said to be working to ensure the deportation of people entering their country illegally.
The press statement reiterated that before the alleged deportation on the 6th November 2022, the Sierra Leone Embassy had organised a meeting in Istanbul with the Leadership and cross-session of the Sierra Leone community.
In the meeting, officials of the Sierra Leone embassy were said to have admonished them to be law abiding and to desist from activities that are against Turkish laws such as drug peddling and other illegal activities.
The press statement also noted that there are Sierra Leoneans coming to Turkey using other countries’ passports which they described as hiding identity.
The Embassy also observed that there are many Sierra Leoneans coming to the country that have not registered with the Sierra Leonean community that would enable officials verify claims.
The embassy promised the collaborative partnership with the Turkish Foreign Ministry to ensure the security and safety of Sierra Leoneans in that country.
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