Refugee Rights Platform warns about increasing rights violations and xenophobia

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"Refugees, especially Syrians, are increasingly facing forced deportations."

"The discriminatory and racist rhetoric initiated before the elections continues."

"Refugees feel increasingly unsafe in the face of racism and hate crimes."

"Travel restrictions on refugees persist."

"Deportation centers are becoming a major issue with allegations of rights violations and suicide cases."

The Refugee Rights Platform held a press conference today (September 19) regarding the forced deportations of Syrian refugees under the guise of voluntarism and the general problems faced by migrants and refugees in Turkey.

The press conference was held at the Association for Human Rights and the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER) and was attended by representatives of Syrian and Turkish civil society.

Yıldız Önen from the Refugee Rights Platform has spoken in the name of the platform and stated that the discriminatory and racist rhetoric initiated before the general elections continues even after the elections.

Önen emphasized that political parties have fueled racism against refugees heading towards the elections, saying, "The promise to 'deport the Syrians,' which was the only issue that opposition political parties agreed on, and the anti-refugee propaganda that infected the society, have begun to bear fruit. When the generated hatred is combined with the lenient policies of the government, even attacks on Arab tourists started to be experienced."

"Illegal deportations are taking place"

Önen outlined the problems refugees are facing in two main categories and referred to international conventions:

"Article 4 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection states that individuals cannot be deported if they face persecution and/or a risk of death in their country.

"However, forced deportations continue, in violation of the Geneva Convention to which Turkey is a party and the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, which regulates the issue in domestic law.

"Especially since July, many Syrian, Afghan, Lebanese, Iraqi, Uzbek, and Turkmen refugees without residence permits in Istanbul have been sent back to their countries or to northern Syria without the necessary procedures being followed," Önen said. 

"Syria is still a war and conflict zone"

Syria is still a war and conflict zone, as reflected in the reports of international institutions and human rights organizations, and it is not safe the platform speaker underlined. And sending people to areas where the risk of war, civil war, and massacres still continues is against ethics and the law, she reminded all. 

"The vast majority of refugees coming to Turkey are individuals displaced from their countries due to war environments in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and many African countries.

"Attempting to send people who have been forced to leave their lands to survive back to their countries or to Syria without being able to use their rights, even temporarily, reveals how those who do this really view human rights," Önen said. 

"Refugees now feel more unsafe"

The participants were informed that in recent months, refugees feel more and more unsafe in the face of racism and hate crimes. Such an environment can make it impossible for them to exercise their rights, even those basic principles of law.

"In an example where the wife of a Syrian refugee was sent to a deportation center without being charged with any crime due to a social media post, practices that violate the principle of individuality of crime and punishment can be observed.

"These practices, which lead refugees and their families into an unsafe situation, prevent them from using even the rights provided by temporary protection status and harm the integration process, show that Turkey is moving away from a consistent and comprehensive migration management," Önen told the participants. 

"A ban on discrimination should be enforced"

Önen also stated that politicians need to abandon policies and rhetoric that increase xenophobia and racism and said, "Turkey needs a migration policy based on justice and rights, and that is consistent and long-term, not on a security perspective or policies that increase hostility toward refugees."

Önen also listed the steps that need to be taken:

She argued that the notification of the Directorate General of Migration Management dated July 28, 2023, which requires Syrian nationals who are registered in a province outside Istanbul but reside in Istanbul to return to their registered provinces by September 24, 2023, should be withdrawn.

The right of residence in Istanbul should be granted to those who can show residence in Istanbul, have children registered in school, work in a workplace, and provide for their family's livelihood; these individuals should be removed from the unregistered status.
Travel restrictions on refugees should be lifted; refugees should be granted the right to reside with their families in the cities where they can find work within Turkey.

The practice of putting individuals at risk of deportation at any moment through the "restriction code," which is considered to have no objective basis and is often arbitrarily imposed, forcing individuals to return voluntarily, and all other practices that violate the law and are documented by court decisions should be terminated.

The ban on discrimination should be enforced; refugees should not be victimized by racists and other violators, and they should be allowed to live free from fear of being deported even if they are victims of "an attack" during their time in this country. Attacks against Syrians and Afghans and all other violations should be effectively investigated and those responsible should be punished by law.

"Racism is fueled when unpunished"

Gülden Sönmez, a lawyer, then described what is happening in deportation centers:

"At the moment, all refugees in Turkey are exposed to racist attacks and systematic legal violations. If a solution is not found to this situation as soon as possible, we will face a serious crisis.

"I have been practicing law for 30 years, and I have never faced such a difficult period. Racism is increasing, and this is also reflected very seriously in the legal system.

"The oxygen of racism is impunity, and the only reason for not preventing racism is racism. Investigations are not conducted as they should be. I do not know what instructions prosecutors are waiting for, despite the fact that there have been so many incidents that threaten Turkey's social peace. Statements by Ümit Özdağ, the president of the Zafer (Victory) Party, are criminally offensive, and despite my personal criminal complaint, I have not received any results."

"There are allegations of suicides in deportation centers"

Sönmez then addressed forced deportations and the situation in deportation centers:

"Although current legislation states that individuals whose lives are under threat cannot be deported, the practice does not reflect this. Violations have become systematic, and not only refugees but also tourists and even Turkish citizens are being stopped on the street by saying 'You look like a Syrian.'

"Refugees who have not committed any crimes, even if they have been held by the police for three months, are being held in police stations. These situations have become systematic violations of rights in Turkey.

"Deportation centers have also become a major problem. We cannot even reach our clients who are held here. It can take weeks to find out where they have been sent or where they are.

"We go to the Tuzla Deportation Center and learn that our client has been sent to Konya, and when we go there, we learn that they have been sent to Van. Often, we only learn that our clients have been deported before we arrive.

"Voluntary return has become compulsory and humiliating. They are forced to sign the voluntary return text. Even individuals who have not committed any crimes are deported in the same way as those who have committed crimes.

"In addition, we hear allegations of suicide cases in deportation centers, but we cannot confirm them. The Human Rights Committee of the Parliament is obliged to investigate and research these allegations as a matter of urgency; these allegations are of a serious nature, and action must be taken as soon as possible." (RT/PE)