Nine Indonesian Citizens Undergo Visa Verification by Turkish Authorities Ahead of Returning to Indonesia

Nine Indonesian nationals, activists with the Global Sumud Flotilla, underwent visa verification by Turkish authorities prior to returning to Indonesia. ‘There will be testimony collection, visa checks, and health examinations by the Turkish side,’ Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Achmad Rizal Purnama said, as quoted by ANTARA on Friday, 23 May 2026. ‘We will repatriate them to the homeland as soon as the processes in Turkey are completed,’ the ambassador added. They were taken to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute after arriving at Istanbul Airport. The nine Indonesians’ arrival in Istanbul after being freed from imprisonment in Israel had been confirmed by Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry earlier. They reportedly suffered abuse while detained by the Israeli military. Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI), the organisation coordinating the dispatch of Indonesian activists to the Global Sumud Flotilla, said the nine Indonesians were planned to return on Saturday (23 May 2026) Turkish time. ‘God willing, they will return home as planned if there are no obstacles tomorrow, Saturday,’ said GPCI Media Coordinator Harfin Naqsyabandy to Kompas.com on Friday, 22 May 2026. ‘There is an SOP; there will be examinations and video testimonies as evidence of Zionist violence, which will be collected first for use in the report,’ Harfin said.