We often hear terms such as immigration, refugee, asylum, guest and temporary protection lately.
Although it has been on the agenda for many years, in the last few weeks, with the strengthening of the Taliban within the framework of the events in Afghanistan and taking the country under its control to a large extent, thousands of Afghans crossing our country's border through the Iranian border, it has once again become our main agenda item.
However, as a result of these transitions, there was a reaction against the Syrians rather than the Afghans. Afghans are coming from the border, but in many parts of the country, our citizens are expressing their reactions in chorus with the slogans "Let the Syrians go home". Because there is a concern about the uncertainty about immigrants in some circles in the country.
Unfortunately, in this regard, public administrators did not have an attitude that satisfies the public sufficiently and soothes the public. Our citizens are not given enough convincing information. For example, how many Syrian citizens reside in our country, how many Afghan refugees are there, how many immigrants from other countries? How many of them live in which provinces, how is their distribution? How many of them were granted citizenship? Such information is not shared with the public. This information is mostly based on the reports of non-governmental organizations or data from academic studies.
OFFICIAL MIGRANT STATUS
For more than ten years, none of the refugees from Syria have been accepted as "official immigrants/refugees".
You will be surprised, but according to our laws, only asylum seekers from European Union member countries are accepted as refugees. Of the more than 10 million foreign asylum seekers in our country, only 18-20 people are officially in refugee status.
In other words, if a German, Dutch or Hungarian says "I want to take shelter in you", he is officially considered a refugee. As a refugee, they have some rights that are “guaranteed” by international law.
None of the others have this status. They are considered "temporary refugees".
Our first problem in this regard; uncertainty and lack of politics. We do not know if there are any plans and targets in the future regarding the integration of millions of foreign people in our country, their occupation, employment, education, health and social security, and residence.
Citizens are naturally worried about this situation. In fact, it is necessary to sympathize with our citizens who are uneasy about the presence of foreigners. It is normal for them to have such worry and anxiety because they cannot find enough answers to these ambiguous questions that arise in their minds.
ANSAR-MUHAJIR BROTHERHOOD
These lands, with their historical acquis, have embraced all humanity from past to present, and have always stood by the oppressed. Our nation, which is home to an ancient civilization, has always fulfilled the Ansar-muhajir brotherhood.
This nation, which has been an immigrant in the past; As a country that has hosted people of different languages, beliefs and views in history, it can do this today as it did yesterday.
The statements of some elected officials and politicians, who find the neighborhood empty, that hurt and disturb the conscience, are painfully witnessed. How right it is to try to cut the bill for the oppressed and aggrieved people who had to leave their homeland, we refer it to our conscience.
Those who immigrated from the Caucasus and the Balkans in the past and lay on the streets in hunger and misery are now against those coming from outside. The refugees of yesterday are practicing ethnic nationalism today. What a fast!
İnformality and its consequences
The second important problem in this regard is the lack of sufficient information and records regarding foreigners in our country, and the lack of a database.
This indifference also causes grievances for refugees. Their rights are unknown, they experience labor exploitation and as a result of the vacuum they are in, they are pushed into the hands of criminal organizations, they are exposed to human trafficking and mafia-like environments. This situation strengthens the hand of illegal organizations.
In addition to all these, it is possible for people and agents to harm our country among those who come from our borders in an uncontrolled manner. This can only be solved with a systematic record control mechanism.
In summary, as in almost every other issue, a lack of planning, lack of programming and unpredictability seriously devastates our country.
Although we do not know how many liras the dollar will be tomorrow, inflation or who will be dismissed and appointed from which position.