Student, Activist, 'Terrorist': The Disturbing Case of an Azerbaijani Dissident in Turkey

Nanekhanim Babazadeh

For many young people, moving abroad for university represents a future filled with hope, learning, and the freedom to advocate for causes they believe in. This was the path chosen by Nanekhanim Babazadeh, an Azerbaijani student who moved to Turkey to pursue her education and engage in peaceful activism.

But her new life has devolved into a nightmare. In August, Babazadə was arrested and detained not for a minor infraction, but under the severe administrative label of a "foreign terrorist fighter." Her story is not just one of wrongful detention; it is a case that reveals how the label of ‘terrorist’ can be weaponized to silence peaceful dissent.

A Human Rights Activist Branded a "Foreign Terrorist Fighter"

Nanekhanim Babazadeh is an Azerbaijani student of anthropology at Istanbul University who arrived in Turkey two years ago. During her time there, she became a visible presence in activist circles, primarily focusing on animal rights while also participating in feminist, LGBT, and student rights protests.

Despite this public record of peaceful advocacy, she is being held under the administrative code G89. This designation is officially reserved for foreign individuals suspected of intending to join terrorist organizations like ISIS. This designation creates an absurd and dangerous disconnect between Babazadə’s known activities and the state’s justification for her detention. According to sources, this is not an isolated incident; the G89 code is a tool weaponized by authorities to silence human rights activists in Turkey.

Allegations of Physical Violence and Inhumane Treatment

Babazadə’s ordeal began on August 21st, when she was arrested at the vegan cafe where she worked. She states that when she protested a search of her person—an act her lawyers argue is illegal in Turkey and constitutes torture—she was met with physical violence and verbal abuse from police officers. Medical documents from a mandatory examination confirm the presence of "bruising and swelling" on various parts of her body.

From the moment of her arrest, Babazadə was held incommunicado, denied access to her lawyers for four days. During this initial period, she was degraded and abused. Authorities refused to let her change clothes, forcing her to remain in the same t-shirt and shorts for three to four days. She was then transferred to the Çatalca Deportation Center, where she is currently held.

Her lawyer, Ahmet Baran Çelik, provided a powerful account of her initial treatment:

«Representatives of the authorities verbally insulted her for this clothing... The necessary medicines and food were not given to her for 24 hours.»

An Offer of Freedom for Information

The pressure on Babazadə allegedly intensified at the Çatalca Deportation Center. She claims she was approached by members of Turkish intelligence services with a stark offer: her freedom in exchange for becoming an informant on the political groups she was involved with. This was not a one-time act of desperation by the authorities; Babazadə stated that she had received such an offer before, revealing a clear pattern of harassment.

She refused the offer. In response, she alleges she was subjected to further physical violence and psychological pressure.

The Peril of a "Voluntary Return"

After her refusal to cooperate, the state’s tactics seemingly escalated. While in detention, Babazadə has been repeatedly pressured to sign a "voluntary return anketi," or form. She has refused every time.

Her refusal is rooted in a credible and terrifying fear for her life. Babazadə states she is in mortal danger in her home country of Azerbaijan, having received death threats from her own family members. This creates a cruel paradox where she is being coerced into "voluntarily" returning to a place where she believes she will be killed. Despite these grave concerns, an appeal filed by her lawyers against the deportation was denied by a court on September 11.

A Case of Labels and Lives

The Turkish authorities have branded a student animal rights activist a foreign terrorist fighter, leveraging a label meant for ISIS recruits to crush dissent. Nanekhanim Babazadeh's life now hangs in the balance, caught between alleged abuse and coercion in Turkey and credible threats to her life in Azerbaijan.

When the label of "terrorist" can be applied to a student activist, what does it mean for human rights and the freedom to dissent everywhere?