“There is no constitutional or legal protection”
An interview with Taner Kılıç, head of the Association for Solidarity with Refugees, discusses key points of Turkey’s policy towards Syrian Refugees. In 2013 Turkey carried an open-door policy towards refugees. Kılıç notes an important distinction concerning the treatment of these refugees. “Syrians were called guests instead of refugees” Kılıç is credited as stating in his interview with Turkey’s Hürriyet newspaper. As the interview is conducted by Turkish newspaper, and given concerns over press freedom in Turkey, it is unlikely that such an interview would be inflammatory of the state.
By labeling those admitted as ‘guests’, Turkey is able to bypass U.N. criteria for refugees. This is permitted by Turkey included “in a small number that maintain “geographical limitations” to the (1951 Refugee Convention) agreements applicability” (Kabaskal Arat, 173). This criteria, primarily outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, include various protections such as non-discrimination clauses, access to employment, rationing, etc. Kılıç uses the placement of camps within 50 miles of the border as one example where the criteria granted to refugees is failing to be met by Turkey. In 2011, Turkey implemented a temporary protection regime, which allows refugees asylum applications. However, by being labeled as guests Syrians in Turkey are blocked from the asylum application process.
International concerns are deepened by Turkey’s refusal to accept UNHCR help with the ongoing crisis. As Kılıç puts it “Turkey wants to give the message that it is a strong state. But while it refused at the beginning to receive any assistance from the outside world, the UNHCR nearly begged at the beginning to help” This illustrates a significant problem; Turkey is one of the primary destinations for Syrian refugees and by blocking UNHCR help, there is no international oversight in one of the most pivotal areas.
The perception of someone directly involved in the refugees from a more administrative role is crucial, specifically in a country such as Turkey operating less than transparently. This kind of insight helps historians understand the mentality and approach Turkey was taking during the Syrian civil war and the refugee crisis that coincided with it. As the refugee crisis continues and pressure is being put on a larger number of countries, it is easy to let the treatment of these refugees slip from focus, interviews such as this bring that back into the larger context of refugees and global migration.
Avery McGuire
Key Source
Poor Transparency Shadows Turkey’s Refugee Policy
Supporting
Arat, Zehra F. Kabasakal, ed. Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights : Human Rights in Turkey. Philadelphia, PA, USA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 6 February 2016.