‘If the Right to Life is at Stake, Borders Shouldn’t be the Matter of Debate’

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The Initiative of "We are All Migrants" has launched a campaign entitled "We are All Migrants - No to Racism" in response to removal of refugees.

The campaign was shared with the public at a discussion panel in Taksim Hill Hotel in Beyoğlu, İstanbul yesterday (July 31). At the panel entitled "Stop deportations, don't touch Syrians!", it was emphasized that the deportation of Syrians from Turkey is against the law.

'Right of asylum is a right of humanity'

Reading out the statement for the press on behalf of the initiative, Coordinator of the campaign Yıldız Önen referred to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and stated the following in brief:

"Right of asylum is a right of humanity. Everyone has the right to migrate to escape from war, poverty, climate change and other reasons making life unbearable and to seek a better life.

"The migrants who have taken refuge in Turkey are not poor creatures that we have to bestow a favor, they are humans, whose rights stemming from international law we need to recognize and with whom we must to build an equal and fraternal life.

'Policies facilitating life together need to be developed'

"We demand that the attitude towards Syrians as 'guests' who will return home one day be abandoned, the representation of Syrians as the source of all problems be ended, policies that would ensure and facilitate integration and a life together be developed.

"In other words, we demand that the refugees' access to services that they need to sustain a humanly life such as accommodation, nourishment and education be granted."

'From an exemplary practice to deportation'

Taking the floor after Önen, lawyer Gülden Sönmez stated, "At the beginning of this process, we were cited as an example by hosting several refugees and meeting the needs that they felt. It is unacceptable that we have moved from setting an example to such a practice. If it is the right to life what is at stake, borders should not be the matter of debate."

'They hold refugees accountable for election defeat'

Şenol Karakaş from the "We are All Migrants" Initiative indicated that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) "has started to hold the refugees and Syrians accountable for its defeat in local elections. The discourse of 'They have to be sent back' is certainly very disturbing as well."

'Politicians should change their discourse'

Referring to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Karakaş also stated, "Yesterday, Kılıçdaroğlu said, 'Syrians should be sent back to their country.' They are using a false discourse just to stand in opposition to the government."

Reminding that İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu from the CHP also made similar remarks about Syrians before, Karakaş said, "İYİ Party MP Sinan Oğan has been making discriminatory statements about Syrians on social media everyday.  Such statements should come to an end."

'Turkey is obliged to protect refugees'

Coordinator General of Truth Justice Memory Center Murat Çelikkan said,

"Turkey has been operating its policies on refugees by bargaining. Turkey, who is a signatory to the Genova Convention, is obliged to enact a law on refugees and to protect the refugees who have found asylum in Turkey.

"As per the Article 17 of the Constitution, the Law no. 6458 on foreigners in Turkey and the Declaration of Human Rights, to which Turkey is a signatory, refoulement is a crime and against the law. The state should immediately abandon this unlawful practice." (Aİ-DD/RT/SD)