The Amnesty: EU’s Sending Refugees Back to Turkey Illegal

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The report titled “No safe refuge: Asylum-seekers and refugees denied effective protection in Turkey” issued by the Amnesty International today (June 3) requested the European Union (EU) to stop its plans of sending back the refugees to Turkey on the assumption that Turkey is a “safe country” for the refugees.

The report explains the lacks the deficiencies in the system and the difficulties the refugees experience in Turkey. It also underlines that the readmissions actualized within the scope of the agreement signed between the EU and Turkey on March 18 is contrary to law and indefensible.

What the refugees go through

The report indicating that the refugee system in Turkey finds it difficult to find solution to over 3 million refugees and asylum-seekers, expressed that the refugees have to wait the outcome of their applications for years.

“As a result, asylum-seekers face years waiting for their cases to be dealt with, during which time they receive little or no support to find shelter and sustenance for themselves and their families, with children as young as nine working to support families”.

“Reckless”

The Amnesty International Europe and Middle Asia Director, John Dalhuisen in his statement as to the matter defined the agreement between the EU and Turkey as “reckless and illegal”.

“In its relentless efforts to prevent irregular arrivals to Europe, the EU has wilfully misrepresented what is actually happening on the ground in Turkey. It is to be expected that a new asylum system, in a country hosting the largest number of refugees in the world, would struggle. While there is value in supporting and encouraging Turkey to develop a fully functioning asylum system, the EU cannot act as if it already exists.” (YY/TK)