Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar today confirmed that the three Turkish nationals arrested for suspected involvement in terrorism activities were deported last night.

"Turkish nationals Turgay Karaman, Ihsan Aslan and Ismet Ozcelik were deported back to Ankara last night," tweeted the top cop.

Karaman, 43, a principal of an international school in Ipoh and 39-year-old businessman Aslan were arrested on Tuesday last week while the third Turk, Ismet Ozcelik, 58, was picked up two days later. 

Lawyer Rosli Dahlan, who represented both Karaman and Ozcelik, had said his clients and Aslan were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012  (Sosma) and probed under Section 130J of the Penal Code.

In a statement later, Khalid said the trio were suspected of being involved in Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ), which is gazetted by the Turkish government and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a terrorist organisation.

"The police found that they are involved in FETÖ and are wanted by the Turkish government. Their travel documents have been revoked by the Turkish government. As such, their presence in Malaysia is not legitimate and they are illegal migrants," he said.

The police will continue to monitor and act against any group or terrorist element which attempts to turn Malaysia into a logistics hub, shelter, fundraising venue or operations base to launch attacks in the country, or against another country, Khalid added. 

Last Friday, the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia expressed serious concern about the trio's arrest and urged the government to refrain from deporting them to Turkey.

"There are concerns that these men may have been targeted over their suspected links to the Gulen movement, which is accused of being behind a coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016," said Laurent Meillan, acting regional representative of the UN Human Rights Office in Bangkok.

This was in reference to US-exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen, who the Turkish government is accusing of masterminding the failed coup in July last year. 

It was reported that the "Turkey purge", launched after the failed coup, has seen tens of thousands of arrests, and sackings, including that of senior government officials. 

Violation of human rights

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson condemned the deportation as a violation of human rights.

“The Malaysian government’s duplicity and crass abuse of the rights of these three men really sets this case apart.

"Done in the middle of the night, with no notification to their families, Malaysia sent these three men to face a possible risk of torture and prolonged pre-trial detention, followed by a court trial that will likely fail to meet fair trial standards.

"The refoulement of Ismet Ozcelik, who had person of concern status with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is a clear violation of international human rights law," he said in a statement.

Robertson said what made the incident even more of a black mark on Malaysia's already spotty human rights report was the fact that the government repeatedly denied Turkey's involvement and falsely accused the three of having links to the Islamic State.

This, he said, was to justify their arrest under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

"This shows again why Sosma is such a danger to judicial due process and basic human rights of Malaysians and foreigners alike, and why it needs to be revoked immediately," he said.

He also questioned whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will explain the photographs which showed that he had previously met with two of the men "whose lives have now been ruined because their government half a world away decided they were enemies and told Malaysia to round them up".