PAIFUP provided representation to AA, a successful entrepreneur from Türkiye. AA was referred for representation by the Shim Hills Interfaith Movement in the Spring of 2023. After finishing school and working towards a college degree, AA began two successful businesses in his hometown of Adana: a restaurant and a business supply company. At its height, the supply business employed eight workers. AA opened both businesses before turning 25 years of age. AA had engaged in political activism in high school, where he advocated for animal rights. As a young adult, he joined an opposition party to the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. When the pro-democratic Gezi Park protests swept Turkey in 2013 (during the time of the Arab Spring), AA became a local opposition leader. His speeches motivated thousands.

The largest audience for one of his speeches numbered roughly 12,000. In Adana and other Turkish cities, the overwhelmingly peaceful protests were met with violence. Armored police utilized shields and batons to suppress the demonstrations, as well as pepper spray, water cannons and by firing on protesters with plastic bullets. AA suffered some minor injuries, including being shot in the back with a rubber bullet. AA’s restaurant became a base for the protests, where food and water were distributed, and where demonstrators fleeing arrest sought protection. The retaliation against the restaurant was swift. Police and other officials repeatedly fined AA with charges for erroneous violations. Water and power to the restaurant were repeatedly shut off. The restaurant’s lessee, a powerful member of the ruling party of President Erdoğan, moved to have AA evicted. But with no legal basis, the property owner failed. Ultimately, the owner assembled a mob to attack the restaurant in broad daylight. They began by throwing flowerpots through the restaurant windows. As customers fled, the mob entered the restaurant wielding clubs, knocking over tables and smashing chairs. AA’s other business was also targeted, and he was periodically arrested at his home. His problems intensified after a failed coup attempt in 2016, which was blamed on the powerful religious movement of Fethullah Gülen. Without evidence, AA was accused of association with the Gülen movement, which the Government branded as FETO (Fethullah Terrorist Organization). The United States refused requests to extradite Mr. Gülen from his home in exile in Pennsylvania. By coincidence, Gülen died the day before AA’s immigration hearing. To survive and maintain his remaining supply business, AA attempted to assimilate into the ruling AKP party of President Erdogan. Despite his work for the AKP party, AA was ultimately accused of disloyalty, and publicly defamed. He was forced to seclude himself at home, where AKP party members attacked him. AKP members threw rocks that broke through his windows. When AA did venture out in public, he would often be recognized and harassed.

In one final attempt to live in peace and safety, AA relocated to a rural area, where he attempted to operate a livestock ranch. But again, despite his attempts to avoid the spotlight, his activist history resurfaced following social media reports of his wedding. While still on his honeymoon, AA’s ranch was attacked. His entire livestock was poisoned and killed. When AA returned to his ranch, he found his pet dogs had also died in the attack. After ensuring the safety of his new wife, AA went to confront an AKP member to whom he previously reported. The meeting quickly deteriorated, and the AKP party boss ordered officials to attack AA. AA was assaulted, but able to escape to his car. As he fled, AA was pursued and fired upon. The harms that AA suffered, orchestrated by the government, have been likened to “civil death,” in which, by sometimes subtle means, a government opponent is deprived of the ability to work and otherwise normally participate in society. In his immigration hearing, the government attorney argued that so called civil death is not a sufficient harm to be recognized for asylum protection. Curiously, the government attorney further argued that the death of the Cleric Gülen somehow mitigated the past or future harms to AA. The immigration judge found AA to have suffered past persecution based on political opinion, and AA has been granted asylum protection. AA said, “I trust the United States, because America is known for having a fair and independent legal system. It’s a society where personal freedoms, freedom of expression, and human rights are strongly defended. I wish for the chance to rebuild my life in America. I have already started a company here, and now that I have protection, I hope to start a restaurant and other businesses in the future.”