Bolu mayor's plan to increase prices for refugees 'unconstitutional'

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Bolu Mayor Tanju Özkan, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said yesterday (July 26) that they would introduce a 10-fold increase to the water bills and solid waste taxes collected from foreign nationals in the city.

Despite receiving heavy criticism, Özkan today reiterated that he is determined to make refugees leave his city.

Attorney Ebru Meşe, the head of the Refugee Rights Center of the Ankara Bar Association, said that such a practice would be illegal. "First and foremost, the international conventions to which Turkey is a party and our own Constitution prohibit such discrimination.

"Not only citizens, but everyone is equal before the laws. The Constitution regulates this. So, what the mayor has stated that he will do is something that can be revoked."

The lawyer noted that Özcan also made similar statements in the past and his latest remarks came amid a new refugee wave from Afghanistan, which has caused public discontent.

"This is something that has been going on for a long time. No one questions the reasons behind these migrations, the giant imperialist and capitalist system that started all these wars. No one questions the big states and states that become their pawns.

"But the public can blame those who don't enjoy the right to life in their own countries. There is a very serious administrative and economic crisis in Turkey.

"People are looking for something to blame. They can't say anything about the state because they are put on trial for "insulting the president" for the slightest criticism. For these reasons, the public looks for a 'scapegoat' and chooses refugees, who are the weakest."

Meşe noted that refugees can apply to the Bolu Bar Association for legal assistance if the mayor implements the price increase. Lawsuits against that can be filed at administrative courts and refugees can file personal action to get back the extra money they paid, she said. (DŞ/VK)