Two of nine Palestinians missing in Turkey now found

Two of nine Palestinians missing in Turkey now found
Turkish authorities have informed the families of two of the nine Palestinians who disappeared in Turkey that they have been found and are now in custody.
2 min read
West Bank
12 October, 2021
Two of the nine Palestinians reported missing in Turkey since early September have been found [Twitter]

Two of the nine Palestinians who went missing in Turkey have been located, the Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs announced on Monday.

Ahmed Al-Dik, a political advisor at the ministry, said in a statement that Abdul Rahman Abu Nuwah from Hebron and Raed Ashour from Gaza have been located by the Turkish authorities.

He told The New Arab that "the Palestinian embassy will follow-up with the Turkish authorities in coming days to know more details".

Mahmoud Abu Nuwah, Abdul Rahman’s brother, told The New Arab that "the family was informed by the Turkish consulate, on Monday, that Abdul Rahman had been located and is in the custody of Turkish authorities".

Abu Nuwah added that "the Turkish consulate told us that Abdul Rahman will be held in custody another four days for 'legal procedures', without giving any more details".

Seven remain missing

Abdul Rahman arrived in Turkey from Hebron in 2013 as a student of business administration, and later founded his own company in Istanbul. In mid-September his family lost contact with him. His brother, Mahmoud earlier told The New Arab earlier that Abdul Rahman also worked as an advisor to newly-arrived Palestinians in Turkey.

Raed Ashour, from Gaza, has been living in Turkey with his family for four years. His wife told Turkish authorities in mid-September that she lost all contact with him as well. He has now been located according to the Palestinian foreign ministry.

Abu Nuwah and Ashour are among nine Palestinians who were reported missing consecutively, in different parts of Turkey, since early September. Four of the remaining seven - Nahed Kafarneh, Ahmad Qishawi, Suleiman Abu Ghaban and Sami Yaziji - are from the Gaza Strip. The other three are Mohammad Salhab from Hebron, Alaa Hamadah from Jenin, and Maha Shaer, a Palestinian resident of Istanbul and mother of three.