content tagged with refugee rights

Refugee Rights Platform warns about increasing rights violations and xenophobia

Refugee Rights Platform warns about increasing rights violations and xenophobia

Speaking at a press conference organized by the Refugee Rights Platform, Lawyer Gülden Sönmez stated, "Even refugees who have not committed any crimes are held in deportation centers for 3 months. They are forced to sign the voluntary return text under duress."

19 September 2023

'Price increases are coming one after another and anger is being directed towards refugees'

'Price increases are coming one after another and anger is being directed towards refugees'

Association for Solidarity with Syrian Refugees Chair Muhammed Saleh Ali has said, “When bread prices increase, some people are blaming Syrian refugees.”

23 June 2022 Melin Durmaz

ECtHR: Turkey violated rights of Syrian refugee by expelling him

ECtHR: Turkey violated rights of Syrian refugee by expelling him

ECtHR has ruled that Turkey violated the rights of a Syrian refugee by expelling him under the guise of a “voluntary return” and fined Turkey to pay 12,250 euros.

Police force African restaurant in Ankara to change colors of signboard

Police force African restaurant in Ankara to change colors of signboard

The signboard was yellow, red, and green, which are the colors of the Union of African States flag. The police thought it resembled the PKK.

Statement from 82 women’s organizations in Turkey: “We stand with immigrants”

Statement from 82 women’s organizations in Turkey: “We stand with immigrants”

More than 700 women and dozens of women’s organizations have issued a statement addressing the increasing racism against refugees in Turkey.

Over 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria, says Turkey’s interior minister

Over 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria, says Turkey’s interior minister

“On average, 400-500 people return each week. The regions they returned to are Jarabulus, A'zaz, Marea, Al-Bab, Ras al-Ayn, and Tell Abyad. These are all safe regions in Syria that we have created,” Minister Soylu has said.

‘This is Turkey; this is how things work here’: Imprisoned refugees deprived of basic rights

REFUGEES BEHIND BARS

‘This is Turkey; this is how things work here’: Imprisoned refugees deprived of basic rights

“There are many foreigners in prisons of Turkey who cannot even make phone calls with their families,” said bianet Aylin Çelikçi from CİSST.

“Sending Syrians back is not easy as the politicians say”

“Sending Syrians back is not easy as the politicians say”

GAR President Didem Danış said, "Some politicians very easily say 'we will send them back', but this will not be as easy as they say. According to both the national legislation and the international law, sending back can only be done voluntarily."

‘Not the fear, but shared values mostly pointed out now’

‘Not the fear, but shared values mostly pointed out now’

Anna, a university student in Germany, is one of dozens of volunteers helping the people displaced from Ukraine. We have spoken with Anna about her experience as a volunteer, the situation in Berlin and the “double standard” criticism faced by Europe.

23 April 2022 Selay Dalaklı

‘Afghans in İzmir forced to sign “voluntary return papers”’

‘Afghans in İzmir forced to sign “voluntary return papers”’

The Human Rights Association has announced that the Afghan refugees are subjected to torture and pressure in the Harmandalı Removal Center: Three refugees attempted to commit suicide and one died.

Turkey | “Refugees from Afghanistan handed over to Taliban by force’

İZMİR BAR ASSOCIATION

Turkey | “Refugees from Afghanistan handed over to Taliban by force’

The İzmir Bar Association has found that nearly 100 refugees from Afghanistan were forced to sign voluntary return papers and their deportation process has been started. The Bar has filed a complaint about the ones responsible for the violations.

5-month prison sentence over refugee child Lütfillah's death with a police fist

8 YEARS, 25 HEARINGS LATER

5-month prison sentence over refugee child Lütfillah's death with a police fist

In the trial over the death of Lütfillah Tacik (17) from Afghanistan as a result of police officer S.O.’s violence in Van, the court has handed down its ruling 8 years later. Reinstated by the Interior Ministry, the officer is given only 5 months in prison.

17 February 2022 Hikmet Adal

‘The reason behind poverty is not refugees,' says rights group

‘The reason behind poverty is not refugees,' says rights group

World is Our Home International Solidarity Association makes a statement about violations of rights faced by refugees: “They work for incomparably low wages, mostly unregistered, and in conditions devoid of occupational safety and human dignity.”

11 January 2022

EU unveils 560 million Euro funding for refugees in Turkey

EU unveils 560 million Euro funding for refugees in Turkey

The European Commission has adopted two financing decisions, amounting to 560 million Euro, to support the education of refugees in Turkey and ensure their access to higher education and for migration and border protection.

22 December 2021

Rights group demands 'urgent measures against deep poverty burning refugee children’

DEADLY FIRE IN İSTANBUL

Rights group demands 'urgent measures against deep poverty burning refugee children’

The İHD has stated, “The ones living in deep poverty, refugee women and children must be prevented from living in conditions where they do not even have safety of life and their right to life is under threat.”

17 December 2021

Facing deportation over news on ‘banana-eating videos’, journalist Shamaa released

Facing deportation over news on ‘banana-eating videos’, journalist Shamaa released

Having reported on the ‘banana-eating videos’ of Syrian people in protest against the targeting remarks of a citizen in a street interview, journalist Majed Shamaa, who was sent to a removal center to be deported from Turkey, has been released.

9 November 2021

Raid on waste and recycling workers in İstanbul’s Sancaktepe

Raid on waste and recycling workers in İstanbul’s Sancaktepe

A raid was carried out against the workers who make a living as waste paper and plastic pickers. Several refugee workers have been detained to be deported on the grounds that “they came to Turkey illegally.”

Duaa Muhammed: I hide my identity to find a house for rent

Duaa Muhammed: I hide my identity to find a house for rent

Duaa Muhammed decided to move from Antep to İstanbul for her MA studies, but she had to return to Antep as she could not find a house for rent. “Sometimes, I don’t say where I am from so that they won’t treat me badly,” she says.

5 October 2021 Ferid Demirel

283,790 people deported from Turkey in 5 years

283,790 people deported from Turkey in 5 years

Interior Minister Soylu has said that 71 thousand Afghans and 40 thousand Pakistanis were sent to their countries in 2019: “When all these are deducted, the number of those whose exit cannot be ensured has been 814 thousand 526 since 2016.”

15 September 2021

Turkish Medical Association calls on Ministry to vaccinate refugees

Turkish Medical Association calls on Ministry to vaccinate refugees

The TTB has underlined that the lives of migrants have become more difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the biggest trouble is in healthcare.

Dead body of an Afghan refugee found in Van

Dead body of an Afghan refugee found in Van

A citizen grazing cattle in the area found the dead body of the unidentified refugee from Afghanistan in the evening hours. The body has been taken to the Van Regional Training and Research Hospital for autopsy.

Lacking prospects for the future of displaced Afghans in Turkey

Lacking prospects for the future of displaced Afghans in Turkey

Turkey's legal framework, which should guarantee minimum protection for refugees from Afghanistan, is rarely put into practice. Instead, they have to rely on the support of non-governmental organizations.

5 August 2021 Betania Bardeleben Reyna

When climate refugees knock on our door

AS THE CLIMATE AND WORLD CHANGE - 11

When climate refugees knock on our door

Climate disasters are forcing many people to leave the country and to seek asylum and protection. How ready is the national legislation of Turkey for this wave?

29 July 2021 Mehmet Mücteba Göktaş

Symbolizing refugee children, Little Amal’s journey begins in Antep

Symbolizing refugee children, Little Amal’s journey begins in Antep

With her kilometers long journey from Turkey’s Antep to England’s Manchester, Little Amal will raise concerns and publicity about the problems faced by refugee children on their journey to Europe with or without their families.

Bolu Mayor ‘won’t step back’ from discriminatory price rises

Bolu Mayor ‘won’t step back’ from discriminatory price rises

Having announced that a 10-fold increase will be introduced to the water bills and solid waste taxes collected from refugees, Bolu Mayor Özcan has said, “I am behind by words. If I have to pay a price, I am ready to do it. I will never take a step back.”

Lawmakers’ questions on Harmandalı Removal Center left unanswered

Lawmakers’ questions on Harmandalı Removal Center left unanswered

As the Parliamentary questions of MPs and the calls of civil society about the Harmandalı Removal Center in İzmir are left unanswered, main opposition CHP MP Bakan has brought the issue once again to the Parliamentary agenda.

With Syrian refugees on board, boat capsizes off the coast of Crete Island

With Syrian refugees on board, boat capsizes off the coast of Crete Island

Heading for Italy, a boat carrying around 45 Syrian refugees capsized off the coast of Greece’s Crete Island. Running out of fuel, the boat reportedly capsized due to bad weather conditions. The search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

Fire in Syrian waste paper pickers’ house claims three children’s lives

Fire in Syrian waste paper pickers’ house claims three children’s lives

According to the preliminary reports, the fire in Konya province broke out due to the electric heater used for the children upstairs.

‘Refugee family cannot pay the charge, hospital doesn’t give the baby’

HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

‘Refugee family cannot pay the charge, hospital doesn’t give the baby’

The İHD has announced that a refugee who has international protection status is not given his prematurely born baby since he cannot meet the treatment expenses. He has noted that all applications to the public hospital have remained inconclusive.

Violence against Chechen woman at Removal Center

Violence against Chechen woman at Removal Center

It is alleged that an 11-month-old baby from Chechnya died in Gündoğdu Removal Center in Kocaeli province as s/he was not treated for COVID-19.

12 April 2021 Evrim Kepenek

4 refugees to be deported for joining İstanbul Convention protests

4 refugees to be deported for joining İstanbul Convention protests

The Denizli Bar Association will file an annulment case against the decision to deport four refugees who allegedly acted against “public order” by joining the protests against Turkey’s withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention.

‘47.5 percent of Syrians in Turkey are children’

REFUGEES LEFT ALONE WITH PROBLEMS

‘47.5 percent of Syrians in Turkey are children’

The İstanbul Branch of Human Rights Association (İHD) has released a report on violations of rights faced by refugees in Turkey in 2020. According to the report, 1 million 732 thousand 44 Syrian people in Turkey are children.

29 January 2021

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