Her lawyer in Switzerland, Murat Özten, had previously said he informed Swiss authorities that Yalçınkaya was the subject of ongoing criminal investigations and court proceedings in Turkey and therefore faced a high likelihood of being imprisoned if returned. Turkish authorities frequently prosecute expressions of support for Kurdish political causes as propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) under the country’s counterterrorism legislation. The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, began an armed insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984. Yalçınkaya’s detention shortly after her return has raised questions about whether Swiss authorities adequately assessed the risks she faced before returning her to Turkey. When an asylum application is rejected, SEM may order the applicant’s removal, while cantonal authorities are responsible for enforcing deportations.