Firm News

Turkish Couple Fleeing Persecution Wins Appeal of Asylum Ruling

December 12, 2005

CHICAGO – A Turkish couple seeking political asylum in the United States has won the right to a new hearing in their case after a unanimous ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

The couple fled Turkey to escape severe persecution due to the husband’s promotion of the Kurdish language and culture. Before leaving Turkey the husband endured, among other abuses, an 18-day detention by the Turkish security services where he allegedly suffered multiple beatings.

Initially, the couple was denied political asylum by an immigration judge who determined that their claims of persecution were not credible for six separate reasons. On appeal to the Seventh Circuit, however, Michael Summerhill of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP successfully argued for the reversal of all six of the reasons given by the immigration judge.

The case, undertaken with the Midwest Immigrant & Human Rights Center, has been remanded for a new hearing.

"We are very happy to have secured this result," said Summerhill. "Our clients have endured unfathomable hardships for standing up for their beliefs. It is only right that someone stands up for them now."

Assisting Summerhill on the case were partners Dawn Canty, Nicole Auerbach and Jonathan Baum; associates Heather Kuhn O'Toole, Bryan Stroh and Robin Silver; and summer associate Jennifer Leifer.