Turkish asylum seekers purchase real criminal cases to claim political persecution in Germany
Turkish asylum applicants are paying services that trigger genuine criminal investigations in Turkey, then using the resulting files to support claims of political persecution before German authorities.
A scheme advertised on social media invites Turkish asylum seekers to post criticism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, prompting Turkish prosecutors to open a criminal case that is entered into the state-run Uyap system. Service providers charge fees—one quoted 800 euros for a full investigation including a house search and indictment—and claim to have satisfied clients in German cities such as Hamburg and Berlin. The resulting legal records are viewable through the E-Devlet portal and are presented to the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Bamf) as evidence of persecution.
Bamf officials have reported numerous inconsistencies in the Turkish documents and stress that each application is examined on its own merits. A 2025 Düsseldorf administrative court ruling labeled a similar tactic a “fabricated lawsuit,” noting that the Turkish proceedings were initiated solely to create paperwork for German asylum proceedings. Experts warn that such manipulation could undermine trust in genuine persecution claims.
Why it matters
The practice threatens the credibility of legitimate asylum claims and burdens German immigration authorities.
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