Dutch asylum policy tightened for Turkish Gülenists: fewer to qualify for protection
The Dutch government can now make it harder for Turkish Gülenists to gain asylum, following a court ruling. This change means applicants must prove individual persecution risks, not just group affiliation, impacting hundreds of asylum seekers from Turkey.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Policy Change | Asylum applications from Gülenists now assessed on individual circumstances |
| Previous Policy | Gülenists generally qualified for asylum based on group affiliation |
| New Requirement | Applicants must show "limited indications" of persecution upon return |
| Court Ruling | Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State, March 25, 2026 |
| Background | Gülen movement blamed for 2016 coup attempt in Turkey |
| Human Rights Situation | Still concerning, but prosecution less severe than post-coup period |
The Minister of Asylum and Migration is responsible for setting and implementing asylum policies in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with international and national legal standards. The Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State oversees the legality of these policies, balancing humanitarian concerns with national interests.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Minister of Asylum and Migration allowed to tighten policy for Gülenists from Turkey
The Minister of Asylum and Migration was permitted to tighten the policy for assessing asylum applications from so-called Gülenists from Turkey, making it less likely for them to qualify for asylum than before. This is the ruling of the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State in three judgments issued today (March 25, 2026).
Background
Gülenists are followers of the so-called Gülen movement. This movement is inspired by the ideology of the late Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who passed away in 2024. The Turkish authorities hold the Gülen movement responsible for the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, in Turkey. In a ruling from February 2019, the Administrative Jurisdiction Division concluded that the situation for Gülenists in the period immediately following the failed coup was “complex and diffuse.” It also ruled that the minister had not dispelled serious reasons to fear that Gülenists as a group would be arrested. Following this ruling, the minister’s policy was that Turks who plausibly demonstrated they were Gülenists would generally qualify for asylum, even if they had not provided individual circumstances showing they would face persecution upon return to Turkey.
Policy change
In December 2023, the minister revised his policy, meaning that asylum applications from Gülenists are now assessed based on the individual circumstances they present. This means a Turkish asylum seeker must not only prove they are a Gülenist but also show “limited indications” that they would face persecution upon return to Turkey.
Situation still concerning, but policy change permitted
The Administrative Jurisdiction Division ruled that the available information, such as official reports and reports, provides sufficient grounds for the policy change. It can be inferred from this that the criminal prosecution of Gülenists in Turkey is less severe than in the period immediately following the failed coup. However, this does not negate the fact that the human rights situation for Gülenists in Turkey remains concerning, and the minister must take this into account when assessing asylum applications from Gülenists.
Read the three rulings of the Administrative Jurisdiction Division here.