Turkish asylum seekers allegedly purchase criminal records to claim persecution in Germany

An investigation has revealed a scheme where Turkish asylum seekers allegedly purchase fraudulent criminal proceedings in Turkey to claim political persecution in Germany. According to reports, the process involves individuals posting critical content about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on social media to trigger investigations. Corrupt prosecutors then reportedly initiate official proceedings that are recorded in the Turkish state justice portal, Uyap.

These official entries can be presented to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) as evidence of persecution. The services are reportedly marketed on platforms like TikTok and Telegram, with packages starting at 600 euros and reaching higher amounts for services including house searches and indictments.

While Bamf has previously dealt with counterfeit versions of the Uyap website, the agency noted that the use of genuine judicial entries in the database is a new and surprising development. The agency emphasized that every asylum application is subject to individual scrutiny.