30. August 2024

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Behandlung syrisch-türkischer Doppelstaatsbürger·innen

Erlangung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft

Aberkennung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft

Rückführungen nach Syrien

Allgemeine Stimmungslage gegenüber Syrer·innen in der Türkei

Quellen

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

Kurzbeschreibungen zu den in dieser Anfragebeantwortung verwendeten Quellen sowie Ausschnitte mit Informationen aus diesen Quellen finden Sie im Anhang.

Es konnten keine Informationen zur Behandlung syrisch-türkischer Doppelstaatsbürger·innen speziell in Istanbul gefunden werden. Es konnten weiters keine Informationen zur Rückführung von syrisch-türkischen Doppelstaatsbürger·innen nach Syrien gefunden werden. Im Folgenden finden sich daher Informationen zur Behandlung syrisch-türkischer Doppelstaatsbürger·innen im Allgemeinen sowie zur Rückführung von legal in der Türkei lebenden Syrer·innen.

Behandlung syrisch-türkischer Doppelstaatsbürger·innen

Im Zusammenhang mit der im Juli 2024 bekannt gewordenen Entscheidung türkischer Behörden, dem syrischen Menschenrechtsaktivisten Taha Al-Ghazi die Staatsbürgerschaft abzuerkennen (siehe unten), hätten einige Kommentator·innen auf sozialen Medien argumentiert, dass diese Entscheidung den prekären Status eingebürgerter Syrer·innen widerspiegle, die oft als Staatsbürger·innen „zweiter Klasse“ behandelt würden. Einige Türk·innen würden eingebürgerte Syrer·innen trotz ihres rechtlichen Status als „Nicht-Türk·innen“ ablehnen (Al-Modon, 18. Juli 2024).

Zwei Quellen berichten über die Lage eingebürgerter Syrer·innen im Zusammenhang mit den Parlaments- und Präsidentschaftswahlen im Mai 2023 (Levkowitz, 19. April 2023; Al Jazeera, 8. Juni 2023). Der Researcher Joshua Levkowitz zitiert in einem Artikel vom April 2023 zwei Syrer·innen, die angegeben hätten, für die Partei des amtierenden Präsidenten Erdoğan stimmen zu wollen, da sie fürchten würden, im Fall eines Sieges der Opposition nach Syrien abgeschoben zu werden. Andere würden eine Überwachung der Wahlen und im Fall ihrer Teilnahme daran, Repressionen bis zum Verlust ihrer Staatsbürgerschaft fürchten. Im Internet würden persönliche Daten von Ausländer·innen mit türkischen Pässen veröffentlicht und über deren Abstimmungsverhalten spekuliert (Levkowitz, 19. April 2023). Auch Al Jazeera zitiert einen eingebürgerten Syrer, nach dessen Aussage einige seiner Freunde nicht an den Wahlen teilgenommen hätten, weil sie sich aufgrund vermehrter Schikanen und rassistischer Angriffe während des Wahlkampfs gefürchtet hätten, aus dem Haus zu gehen. Viele würden sich jedoch auch als integraler Bestandteil der Türkei fühlen, weil sie größtenteils in diesem Land aufgewachsen seien und sich nur wenig an Syrien erinnern würden (Al Jazeera, 8. Juni 2023).

Syria Direct berichtet im August 2022 über wachsende Ressentiments gegenüber Personen syrischer Herkunft, auch jenen mit türkischer Staatsbürgerschaft. So zitiert Syria Direct einen in Syrien geborenen Türken mit der Aussage, dass die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft kein „sicherer Hafen“ mehr sei. Rechtlich sei er ein türkischer Staatsbürger, aber auf sozialer Ebene ändere die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft nichts daran, wie man gesehen werde. Jeder öffentliche Bedienstete könne ihn als Flüchtling und Fremden behandeln. Der rechtliche Status sei gut, aber er würde nicht die Angst davor nehmen, wie man auf der Straße behandelt werde. Ein anderer eingebürgerter Syrer habe berichtet, dass ihm ein Bankangestellter trotz seiner türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft die Eröffnung eines Bankkontos verweigert habe; das Konto bei derselben Bank online zu eröffnen, sei kein Problem gewesen (Syria Direct, 12. August 2022).

Reuters berichtet im Juli 2024, dass im Zusammenhang mit Aussagen des türkischen Präsidenten Erdoğan zu einer angestrebten Verbesserung der Beziehungen zum syrischen Präsidenten Baschar Al-Assad die in der Türkei lebenden Syrer·innen befürchten würden, nach Syrien abgeschoben zu werden. Es gebe auch eingebürgerte Syrer·innen, die Angst hätten, dass ihnen die Staatsbürgerschaft wieder entzogen werde (Reuters, 8. Juli 2024).

Laut eines Berichts der Abteilung für Information, Dokumentation und Recherche (Division de l’information, de la documentation et des recherches, DIDR) der französischen Behörde für den Schutz von geflüchteten und staatenlosen Personen (Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides, OFPRA) vom Mai 2022 seien seit einer Gesetzesänderung im Jahr 2019 auch eingebürgerte Männer, die zum Zeitpunkt des Erwerbs der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft jünger als 22 Jahre waren, wehrpflichtig, sofern sie nicht bereits im Herkunftsland ihren Wehrdienst abgeleistet hätten (DIDR-OFPRA, 18. Mai 2022, S. 3-4). Enab Banadi zitiert zwei eingebürgerte Syrer, darunter einen mit türkischen Wurzeln, die angegeben hätten, keine Diskriminierung bei der Ableistung ihres Wehrdienstes erfahren zu haben (Enab Baladi, 23. Juni 2023).

Erlangung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft

Laut Länderbericht für das Jahr 2023 des European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) gebe es drei Möglichkeiten, die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft zu erwerben: durch herkömmliche Prozedur, durch Eheschließung mit einem/einer türkischen Staatsbürger·in sowie durch außerordentliche Umstände. Letztere würden etwa finanzielle Investitionen ab einer bestimmten Höhe oder die Schaffung von einer bestimmten Mindestanzahl an Arbeitsplätzen beinhalten sowie die Erbringung von besonderen Leistungen, unter anderem im wissenschaftlichen, kulturellen oder sportlichen Bereich (ECRE, August 2024, S. 137).

Mit Stand Ende 2023 hätten 238.555 Syrer·innen eine außerordentliche türkische Staatsbürgerschaft erhalten, zitiert die libanesische Nachrichtenseite Al-Modon den türkischen Innenminister Ali Yerlikaya (Al-Modon, 18. Juli 2024).

Das Danish Immigration Service (DIS) berichtet mit Berufung auf mehrere Quellen, dass die Kinder von Eltern mit türkisch-syrischer Doppelstaatsbürgerschaft automatisch die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft erhalten würden (DIS, Oktober 2023, S. 39).

Aberkennung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft

Die libanesische Nachrichtenseite Al-Modon berichtet im Juli 2024, dass dem in der Türkei lebenden syrischen Menschenrechtsaktivisten Taha Al-Ghazi die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft aberkannt worden sei. Al-Ghazi habe auf seiner persönlichen Facebook-Seite bestätigt, dass die Aberkennung im Mai dieses Jahres erfolgt sei, dass er jedoch Berufung einlegen und für die Wiedererlangung der Staatsbürgerschaft kämpfen werde. Die Nachricht sei zuerst von syrischen Aktivist·innen in den sozialen Medien verbreitet worden, bevor Al-Ghazi sie bestätigt habe. Einige Kommentator·innen hätten die Aberkennung mit kurz zuvor erfolgten gewalttätigen Vorfällen gegen Syrer·innen in der Stadt Kayseri[1] in Verbindung gebracht, was Al-Ghazi zurückgewiesen habe (Al-Modon, 18. Juli 2024).

Laut Gesprächsprotokoll eines vom Danish Immigration Service (DIS) mit Human Rights Watch (HRW) geführten Interviews für einen Bericht zu Syrer·innen in der Türkei wisse HRW von einem Fall, in dem ein syrischer Geschäftsmann die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft erhalten, diese ihm aber später wieder aberkannt worden sei. Dadurch habe er den Zugang zu vielen Rechten verloren, einschließlich des Rechts, sein Kind in eine Schule zu schicken (DIS, Oktober 2023, S. 87).

The New Arab, eine englischsprachige Nachrichtenseite mit Fokus auf den Nahen Osten und Nordafrika, schreibt im Juni 2024 über die Befürchtungen tausender eingebürgerter Syrer·innen, dass ihnen die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft aberkannt werden könne. Es gebe Gerüchte, wonach bereits 5.000 Syrer·innen davon betroffen sein sollen. Es gebe auch unbestätigte Berichte über eine bevorstehende Veröffentlichung von Listen jener Personen, denen ebenfalls die Staatsbürgerschaft aberkannt werden solle. In diesem Zusammenhang zitiert The New Arab einen türkischen Rechtsanwalt, dem zufolge eine Aberkennung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft nur im Falle der Verwendung unechter oder gefälschter Dokumente oder im Falle einer Gefährdung der Staatssicherheit aberkannt werden könne. Bei allen anderen Vergehen oder Verbrechen würden eingebürgerte Personen genauso wie alle anderen türkischen Staatsbürger·innen zur Rechenschaft gezogen. The New Arab erklärt ausführlicher, dass die türkische Regierung eine verliehene Staatsbürgerschaft gemäß eines Entscheids von 2009 wieder aberkennen könne, falls bei der Antragstellung falsche Informationen oder gefälschte Dokumente verwendet worden seien. Andere Gründe für die Aberkennung seien die gegen die Interessen der Türkei gerichtete Arbeit für ein fremdes Land, Dienst für ein feindliches Land in Kriegszeiten, Militärdienst in einem anderen Land ohne Genehmigung, das Begehen schwerer Verbrechen, das Tätigen von Handlungen für oder die Finanzierung von Terrorist·innen. Laut Ahmed Hassan, eines von The New Arab zitierten Türkei-Experten, habe der türkische Innenminister Ali Yerlikaya seit der Regierungsbildung [Juni 2023, Anmerkung ACCORD] als Reaktion auf Fälle, wo gefälschte Unterlagen verwendet worden seien oder es andere Verstöße gegeben habe, eine Untersuchung von Anträgen auf Staatsbürgerschaft bzw. von verliehenen Staatsbürgerschaften in die Wege geleitet. Laut Hassan hätten Personen, die über die Aberkennung ihrer Staatsbürgerschaft informiert würden, eine Frist von drei Monaten, um einen Anwalt oder eine Anwältin für die Einreichung eines Antrags auf Wiederherstellung der Staatsbürgerschaft zu engagieren (The New Arab, 14. Juni 2024).

Enab Baladi, eine syrische oppositionelle Medienorganisation, beschreibt bereits in einem Artikel vom Mai 2023 die Befürchtungen einiger eingebürgerter Syrer·innen, dass ihnen die Staatsbürgerschaft entzogen werden könne. Unsicherheit herrsche besonders hinsichtlich der „außerordentlichen“ Staatsbürgerschaft. Enab Baladi merkt an, dass im Vorfeld der Wahlen [Parlaments- und Präsidentschaftswahlen im Mai 2023, Anmerkung ACCORD], einige Parteien für die Aberkennung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft bei eingebürgerten Flüchtlingen eingetreten seien. In diesem Zusammenhang zitiert Enab Baladi einen türkischen Rechtsexperten, dem zufolge Artikel 31 des türkischen Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetzes (Turkish Nationality Law) die Möglichkeit vorsehe, eine verliehene Staatsbürgerschaft wieder abzuerkennen, falls bei der Erlangung der türkischen Staatsbürgerschaft ein falsches Dokument verwendet oder eine Falschaussage getätigt worden sei. Eine Aberkennung sei auch möglich, wenn die türkische Staatsbürgerschaft irrtümlich ein zweites Mal verliehen worden sei. Es sei nicht möglich, eingebürgerten Syrer·innen generell die Staatsbürgerschaft abzuerkennen, da dies ein individueller Prozess sei. Was die Regierung tun könne, sei, die für die Einbürgerung vorgelegten Dokumente zu prüfen und jenen die Staatsbürgerschaft abzuerkennen, die nachweislich gefälschte Dokumente vorgelegt hätten (Enab Baladi, 18. Mai 2023).

Rückführungen nach Syrien

Enab Baladi zitiert in einem Artikel vom Juli 2024 einen eingebürgerten Syrer, der berichtet habe, dass er kein Vertrauen habe, dass Staatsbürgerschaften nicht entzogen würden, nachdem er bemerkt habe, dass auch Syrer·innen mit gültigen Dokumenten abgeschoben worden seien (Enab Baladi, 31. Juli 2024).

Mehrere Quellen berichten von der Abschiebung von Syrer·innen mit aufrechtem Schutzstatus (z.B. HRW, 24. Oktober 2022; STJ, 18. September 2023) bzw. gültigen Aufenthaltspapieren (The Guardian, 27. Juni 2023; SOHR, 9. Juni 2024).

Allgemeine Stimmungslage gegenüber Syrer·innen in der Türkei

Mehrere Medien berichten über eine zunehmend anti-syrische Stimmung unter der türkischen Bevölkerung (z.B. Syria Direct, 12. August 2022; Al Jazeera, 8. Juni 2023; Reuters, 22. September 2023; The New Arab, 5. Juli 2024). Einem von Al Jazeera interviewten, in der Türkei eingebürgerten Syrer zufolge, seien geflüchtete Syrer·innen anfangs gut aufgenommen worden, die Lage habe sich aber aufgrund einer sich ausdehnenden Wirtschaftskrise mit hoher Inflation und einem Währungsverfall verschlechtert. Das habe unter der türkischen Bevölkerung zu einer feindseligen Stimmung gegenüber Migrant·innen geführt (Al Jazeera, 8. Juni 2023).

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 30. August 2024)

·      Al Jazeera: Future unknown but Syrians in Turkey ‘relieved’ after Erdogan win, 8. Juni 2023
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/8/future-unknown-but-syrians-in-turkey-relieved-after-erdogan-win

·      Al-Modon: Turkey Revokes Citizenship of Syrian Human Rights Activist Taha al-Ghazi, The Syrian Observer (Hg.), 18. Juli 2024
https://syrianobserver.com/refugees/turkey-revokes-citizenship-of-syrian-human-rights-activist-taha-al-ghazi.html

·      DIDR – Divisionde l’information, de la documentation et des recherches (OFPRA - Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides): Turquie : Conditions et déroulement du service militaire pour les Syriens naturalisés turcs, 18. Mai 2022
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/default/files/ofpra_flora/2205_tur_syr_service_militaire_syriens_naturalises_turcs_156230_web.pdf

·      DIS – Danish Immigration Service: Türkiye. Syrians in Türkiye – the Temporary Protection Regulation and its implementation [Quelle: Interview mit Human Rights Watch, 6. Juli 2023], Oktober 2023
https://us.dk/media/10630/ffm-report-syrians-in-tuerkiye-final-061023.pdf

·      ECRE – European Council on Refugees and Exiles: Türkiye – Country Report 2023 update, August 2024
https://asylumineurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AIDA-TR_2023-Update.pdf

·      Enab Baladi: Rumors in Turkey distress Syrians and disrupt their plans, 31. Juli 2024
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/07/rumors-in-turkey-distress-syrians-and-disrupt-their-plans/

·      Enab Baladi: Naturalized Syrians perform compulsory service in Turkish army, 23. Juni 2023
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2023/06/naturalized-syrians-perform-compulsory-service-in-turkish-army/

·      Enab Baladi: Will citizenship be revoked, a question that worries Turkish Syrians, 18. Mai 2023
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2023/05/will-citizenship-be-revoked-a-question-that-worries-turkish-syrians/

·      Guardian (The): ‘We fear leaving the house’: Lebanon and Turkey step up deportations of Syrian refugees, 27. Juni 2023
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jun/27/we-fear-leaving-the-house-lebanon-and-turkey-step-up-deportations-of-syrian-refugees

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Turkey: Hundreds of Refugees Deported to Syria, 24. Oktober 2022
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/turkey-hundreds-refugees-deported-syria

·      Levkowitz, Joshua: Naturalized Syrians are in the spotlight ahead of Turkey’s upcoming elections, MEI (Hg.), 19. April 2023
https://mei.edu/publications/naturalized-syrians-are-spotlight-ahead-turkeys-upcoming-elections

·      New Arab (The): Fears among Syrian refugees in Turkey as thousands face citizenship withdrawal, 14. Juni 2024
https://www.newarab.com/news/thousands-syrians-turkey-fear-citizenship-withdrawal

·      New Arab (The): Riots and personal data leaks leave Syrian refugees in Turkey fearing for their lives, 7. August 2024
https://www.newarab.com/features/fear-syrian-refugees-turkey-amid-riots-and-data-leaks

·      New Arab (The): Fear of more violence against Syrians in Turkey after teenager leaks personal data, 5. Juli 2024
https://www.newarab.com/news/syrians-fear-violence-turkey-teenager-leaks-personal-data

·      Reuters: Syrians in Turkey fear for future after Erdogan plans talks with Assad, 8. Juli 2024
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrians-turkey-fear-future-after-erdogan-plans-talks-with-assad-2024-07-08/

·      Reuters: Syrians feel growing pressure from Turkey's anti-migrant political wave, 22. September 2023
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrians-feel-growing-pressure-turkeys-anti-migrant-political-wave-2023-09-22/

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Illegal deportation of Syrian refugees | Ankara continues its efforts to change demography of north Syria region, 9. Juni 2024
https://www.syriahr.com/en/335779/

·      Syria Direct: A fading dream: Turkey ‘no longer a safe haven’ for Syrians, citizens and refugees alike, 12. August 2022
https://syriadirect.org/a-fading-dream-turkey-no-longer-a-safe-haven-for-syrians-citizens-and-refugees-alike/

·      STJ – Syrians for Truth and Justice: “He Looks Syrian; Get off and Ask for His kimlik”. “Voluntary Return by Coercion”: Turkish Authorities Forcibly Deport Thousands of Syrians to Unsafety, 18. September 2023
https://stj-sy.org/en/he-looks-syrian-get-off-and-ask-for-his-kimlik/

 

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

Al Jazeera ist ein in Qatar ansässiger arabischer Nachrichtensender.

·      Al Jazeera: Future unknown but Syrians in Turkey ‘relieved’ after Erdogan win, 8. Juni 2023
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/8/future-unknown-but-syrians-in-turkey-relieved-after-erdogan-win

„Al-Abdullah, originally from Palmyra, was the only one in his family eligible to vote, as he was naturalised three years ago, because of his achievements in sports and education. As a martial arts champion and a student of engineering at the University of Gaziantep, he was selected for the citizenship process. […]

Although al-Abdullah was barely a teenager when he came to Turkey in 2015, he said the family felt that they were well received at first, as Syrians and Turks in the southeast share a similar culture and traditions. The situation gradually deteriorated because of a widening economic crisis that saw soaring inflation and a collapse of Turkey’s currency, which in turn contributed to an increasing anti-migrant sentiment among the Turkish public.

‘Some Turkish people I know told me that Erdogan won because of our votes. But Syrians’ votes are only 0.2 percent and Erdogan won with a 4-percent difference,’ he said, adding that some of his friends who also gained citizenship were too afraid to leave home during the election period because of increasing harassment and racist attacks, so they didn’t vote.

‘At least [under Erdogan] I feel like I can be involved in Turkish politics like a Turk, not just as a Syrian. Many of us feel we are an integral part of this country because we grew up mainly here and don’t remember much about Syria,’ said al-Abdullah.” (Al Jazeera, 8. Juni 2023)

Al-Modon ist eine libanesische Nachrichtenseite. The Syrian Observer ist ein Nachrichtendienst, der syrische Nachrichten sammelt und ins Englische übersetzt.

·      Al-Modon: Turkey Revokes Citizenship of Syrian Human Rights Activist Taha al-Ghazi, The Syrian Observer (Hg.), 18. Juli 2024
https://syrianobserver.com/refugees/turkey-revokes-citizenship-of-syrian-human-rights-activist-taha-al-ghazi.html

„The Turkish authorities have revoked the citizenship of Syrian human rights activist Taha al-Ghazi, known for his advocacy on behalf of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Ghazi confirmed the news, initially circulated by Syrian activists on social media. He announced on his personal Facebook page that his citizenship was revoked on May 27th. He had chosen not to disclose the information earlier to avoid causing fear and anxiety among the Syrian refugee community in Turkey, noting that some parties had publicized the news as a scoop.

Some commentators linked the revocation of Ghazi’s citizenship to recent racist incidents in the state of Kayseri, where violence against Syrians by Turks had occurred. However, Al-Ghazi denied any connection, stating that the decision was unrelated to media appearances or activities following the events in Kayseri.

Ghazi intends to challenge the decision in court, expressing his belief in the judicial system as the means to regain his nationality. He emphasized that he has no plans to leave Turkey or seek asylum elsewhere, reaffirming his commitment to defending the rights of Syrian refugees, as he has done for years.

By the end of 2023, the number of Syrians holding exceptional Turkish citizenship reached 238,555, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Data from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior indicates that 3,426,719 Syrian refugees live in Turkey under temporary protection, including 63,720 in temporary shelters, while 3,362,989 reside outside these centers.

Some commentators argued that the revocation of Ghazi’s citizenship reflects the precarious status of naturalized Syrians, who are often treated as second-class citizens. The racist rhetoric that emerged during the Kayseri events in June has exacerbated this sentiment, with some Turks dismissing naturalized Syrians as ‘non-Turks’ despite their legal status.” (Al-Modon, 18. Juli 2024)

OFPRA ist eine französische Behörde, die für den Schutz von geflüchteten und staatenlosen Personen zuständig ist. DIDR ist eine an OFPRA angegliederte Abteilung für Information, Dokumentation und Recherche.

·      DIDR – Division de l’information, de la documentation et des recherches (OFPRA - Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides): Turquie: Conditions et déroulement du service militaire pour les Syriens naturalisés turcs, 18. Mai 2022
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=/sites/default/files/ofpra_flora/2205_tur_syr_service_militaire_syriens_naturalises_turcs_156230_web.pdf

„Depuis 2019, en application de l’article 43 de la loi n°7179 sur la conscription, les personnes ayant acquis la nationalité turque ultérieurement, effectuent leur service militaire dans les mêmes conditions que les conscrits entrés dans l'âge militaire cette année-là, en fonction de leur âge et de leur situation d’études au moment de l’acquisition de la nationalité.

Selon l’article 43 de la loi n°7179 sur la conscription de 2019 et le site web officiel du ministère de la Défense, dont une page est consacrée aux conditions du service militaire pour les recrues ayant acquis la nationalité turque, les hommes âgés de 22 ans ou plus au moment de l’acquisition de la nationalité turque sont exemptés de service militaire, ainsi que ceux qui peuvent prouver par un document avoir déjà effectué le service militaire de leur pays d’origine ou y être considérés comme déchargés de leurs obligations militaires.

Ceux qui n’ont pas effectué le service militaire dans leur pays d’origine et qui ont moins de 22 ans au moment de leur naturalisation sont donc astreints au service militaire turc, mais peuvent demander à reporter leur service de deux ans à compter de la date de leur naturalisation. A la fin de cette période de report, ils doivent s’enregistrer et sont enrôlés avec ceux qui atteignent l'âge militaire cette année-là19. En cas de mobilisation, ils peuvent être envoyés au service militaire selon les besoins.“ (DIDR-OFPRA, 18. Mai 2022, S. 3-4)

Das Danish Immigration Service (DIS) ist die in Dänemark für Einwanderung, Einreise und Aufenthalt von Ausländer·innen zuständige Behörde des Ministeriums für Einwanderung und Integration.

·      DIS – Danish Immigration Service: Türkiye. Syrians in Türkiye – the Temporary Protection Regulation and its implementation, Oktober 2023
https://us.dk/media/10630/ffm-report-syrians-in-tuerkiye-final-061023.pdf

„Parents with dual Turkish-Syrian citizenship will automatically pass on their Turkish citizenship to their children.” (DIS, Oktober 2023, S. 39)

„Some foreigners can buy properties and gain Turkish citizenship through that or through making investments in the country. However, HRW [Human Rights Watch] knew of an example of a troubling case of a Syrian businessman who resides in Kayseri and who had gained Turkish nationality. Later his citizenship was withdrawn and this has caused him to lose access to many rights including sending his child to a school.” (DIS, Oktober 2023, S. 87)

Der European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) mit Sitz in Brüssel ist die Dachorganisation europäischer NGOs, die sich für den Schutz und die Förderung der Rechte von Flüchtlingen, Asylsuchenden und Vertriebenen einsetzen.

·      ECRE – European Council on Refugees and Exiles: Türkiye – Country Report 2023 update, August 2024
https://asylumineurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AIDA-TR_2023-Update.pdf

„According to Law No 5901 on Turkish Citizenship, there are three procedures for naturalisation of foreign citizens. Citizenship may be acquired through:

a. Normal procedure: According to the normal procedure, the foreigner must have a valid residence permit in Türkiye for 5 years. The foreigner with a valid residence permit must not leave Türkiye more than 180 days during the 5-year residence period. If this period is exceeded, the 5-year period is restarted. After the completion of 5 years, it is not possible to directly acquire citizenship. First, the Citizenship Committee assesses the economic status and social cohesion of the applicant. Afterwards, security checks are conducted by the local police and the National Intelligence Organisation and the collected information is sent to the General Directorate of Citizenship of the Ministry of Interior. If no issues are raised at the end of the security investigation, the applicant acquires the Turkish citizenship under a proposal of the General Directorate of Citizenship of the Ministry of Interior through the approval of the Minister of Interior.

b. Marriage to a Turkish citizen: If the marriage of the applicant lasts 3 years and is effective, the applicant can acquire the citizenship. However, the applicant again needs to be ‘cleared’ by a security investigation.

c. Exceptional circumstances: Citizenship based on exceptional circumstances is mostly granted to foreigners who bring industrial skills or contributing to the scientific, economic, cultural, social and sportive progress of Türkiye, without any residence or temporal conditions. In this way, it is aimed at granting qualified people Turkish citizenship as quickly as possible. As of May 2022, several terms in the regulation on the implementation of Law on Turkish Citizenship Procedures underwent some changes; currently, the Turkish citizenship can be acquired in 8-9 months in exchange for: purchasing designated for construction, on which a condominium ownership or condominium servitude has been established, of at least 400,000 USD from designated districts; investing in fixed capital of at least 500,000 USD; creating new employment for at least 50 people; depositing in Türkiye at least 500,000 USD with a reservation of not withdrawing it for three years; buying governmental bonds of 500,000 USD with a reservation of not selling them for three years; acquiring investment funds of 500,000 USD. With the amendment in May 2022, foreigners investing in private pension schemes at least 500,000 USD with a reservation of not withdrawing it for three years shall also acquire Turkish citizenship. Application for Turkish citizenship by investment is completed in approximately 3 months. The public has widely criticised the new modifications, which dramatically reduce the amount of financial contributions from millions of dollars to 500,000 USD, claiming that the government offers 'citizenship for free.’ Prior to the modifications, Türkiye ranked third in the world for the lowest cost of citizenship.” (ECRE, August 2024, S. 137)

Enab Baladi ist eine syrische oppositionelle Medienorganisation.

·      Enab Baladi: Rumors in Turkey distress Syrians and disrupt their plans, 31. Juli 2024
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/07/rumors-in-turkey-distress-syrians-and-disrupt-their-plans/

„Yahya (29 years old) said that the opposition’s threats to review the files of Syrians who obtained citizenship and revoke it from them ‘made our fears of this happening real,’ especially after the opposition began to gain more popularity, particularly after their dominance in the municipal elections. This may strengthen their chances of winning the presidential elections in 2028 and implementing their threats and promises against people like Yahya, as he said.

Yahya expresses his lack of confidence that Syrians’ citizenships will not be revoked in the future after noticing that Syrians were deported despite having legal documents, according to him, adding, ‘I have started to feel unstable here, which prompted me to travel with my family to Kuwait two months ago after obtaining Turkish passports in advance.’” (Enab Baladi, 31. Juli 2024)

·      Enab Baladi: Naturalized Syrians perform compulsory service in Turkish army, 23. Juni 2023
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2023/06/naturalized-syrians-perform-compulsory-service-in-turkish-army/

„Abdulmejid, who asked to withhold his full name, recounts the moments of joining his military unit, and the gathering center was like a ‘hotel,’ adding that ‘the conditions of joining the Turkish army are different from all the lousy stories that are told about military service in the Syrian army.’

Although his Turkish language was not good during the period when he joined the service, Abdulmejid did not face any kind of discrimination and was even perceived as having come to serve the country, he told Enab Baladi. […]

Despite the fact that Adel exceeded the legal age for military service, as stipulated by Turkish law when he obtained citizenship of the country, he was forced to join the service due to the fact that he is of Turkish origin.

Adel told Enab Baladi that his old age compared to his service companions prompted them to respect him, as he did not face any discrimination because he came from Syria.

He added that his Turkish origins were known to everyone, besides he speaks Turkish well, which prevented him from being subjected to any discrimination in his military unit.” (Enab Baladi, 23. Juni 2023)

·      Enab Baladi: Will citizenship be revoked, a question that worries Turkish Syrians, 18. Mai 2023
https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2023/05/will-citizenship-be-revoked-a-question-that-worries-turkish-syrians/

„Talk about fear of the country’s political future constantly leaks from the conversations of some naturalized Syrians and foreigners, even during the time period preceding the Turkish presidential elections, as some of them consider that their stability is threatened, due to their ignorance of nationality laws, especially the ‘exceptional’ ones. […]

Ismail believes that the nationality he obtained is ‚exceptional,‘ and there is no clear information about it, and he cannot be considered a Turkish citizen once he obtains it.

While the Turkish opposition has pledged for years to deport Syrian refugees from the country, parties appeared before the elections pledging to revoke citizenship from naturalized refugees, such as the Zafer Party headed by Ümit Özdağ. […]

Turkish legal expert Halim Yilmaz, who is among the group participating in the preparations for the Foreigners and International Protection Law, told Enab Baladi that Turkish government institutions have wide powers to make changes to naturalization files, but of course, this change will not happen just because the government changes.

Article 31 of the Turkish Nationality Law provides for the possibility of withdrawing citizenship from a naturalized foreigner in the country if a forged document was used during the application for naturalization, according to Yilmaz.

Making a false statement about an important issue related to the naturalization file, such as identity information or other personal information, or using forged documents, authorizes government agencies to revoke a person’s nationality, according to Turkish law.

On the other hand, the withdrawal of citizenship can be regulated in the law according to the rule that ‘a person acquires citizenship for the second time by mistake or repeatedly.’ […]

Regarding fears of the possibility of withdrawing nationality from Syrians in general, which some naturalized people in the country have been feeling for years, Yilmaz confirmed that such matters cannot happen.

‘Such a thing is never possible. While doing something administrative, it must be carried out individually, and it is not possible to take a similar step that targets a specific group or category entirely,‘ the Turkish legal expert said.

Yilmaz considered that the option available to the government is to check the documents submitted in the naturalization files and to revoke the nationalities of those proven to have forged legal papers, and the nationality files are reviewed individually.“ (Enab Baladi, 18. Mai 2023)

The Guardian ist eine englische Tageszeitung.

·      Guardian (The): ‘We fear leaving the house’: Lebanon and Turkey step up deportations of Syrian refugees, 27. Juni 2023
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jun/27/we-fear-leaving-the-house-lebanon-and-turkey-step-up-deportations-of-syrian-refugees

„Inside an immigration detention centre in Istanbul, Saeed, who had lived in Turkey for almost a decade, realised he was unlikely to be set free, even though police had questioned him and found him innocent after he provided proof that they were nowhere near the alleged crime scene.

’All my papers were correct; I wasn’t living here illegally. I’m registered as living in Istanbul, my kids are studying at Turkish universities, I pay taxes and I have my own business. I thought everything was set,‘ he says, speaking from his office in a school where Syrians learn Turkish.” (The Guardian, 27. Juni 2023)

Human Rights Watch ist eine international tätige Menschenrechtsorganisation.

·      HRW – Human Rights Watch: Turkey: Hundreds of Refugees Deported to Syria, 24. Oktober 2022
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/turkey-hundreds-refugees-deported-syria

„Human Rights Watch focused on the deportation of Syrian refugees who had been recognized by Turkey’s temporary protection regime but whom authorities nevertheless deported or threatened with deportation to Syria in 2022. All 47 Syrian refugees whose cases were examined had been living and working in cities across Turkey, the majority in Istanbul, before they were arrested, detained, and in most cases deported. All detainees are identified with pseudonyms for their protection.

All but two had a Turkish temporary protection ID [identity document] permit when they lived in Turkey, commonly called a kimlik, which protects Syrian refugees against forced return to Syria. Several said they had both a temporary protection ID and a work permit.” (HRW, 24. Oktober 2022)

Joshua Levkowitz ist ein Fellow beim Institute of Current World Affairs mit dem Forschungsschwerpunkt Migration.

·      Levkowitz, Joshua: Naturalized Syrians are in the spotlight ahead of Turkey’s upcoming elections, MEI (Hg.), 19. April 2023
https://mei.edu/publications/naturalized-syrians-are-spotlight-ahead-turkeys-upcoming-elections

„It will also be the first election Rana al-Masry ever votes in. ‘I will vote for AKP [Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi],’ she said blankly in Istanbul, referring to the Justice and Development Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has run the country for more than 20 years. She does not necessarily believe in them, she explains. ‘It's only because my family will have better chances of not being deported or whatever may happen to them if the opposition takes charge.’

The 36-year-old Masry is one of more than 200,000 Syrians who have been granted Turkish citizenship since their arrival in the wake of the Syrian war. […]

Based on this, Masry and others see Erdoğan as the lesser of two evils. Most Syrians seem to view the AKP as their original allies and the best guarantor of the community’s future in Turkey.

Samir Abdullah, a Syrian researcher who will vote for the ruling government, said, ‘The problem is with the rest of the parties, the opposition parties […] They are threatening to deport Syrians, threatening to resume relations directly with the regime, withdrawing the Turkish military from the north. That is the problem, that is why I am picking the best of the worst.’ […]

Others, traumatized by the repressive political system of their native country, fear the consequences of participation. ‘They fear the Turkish elections are monitored like in Syria. Therefore, if anyone supports AKP, the opposition will know about it and hold it accountable,’ or vice versa, said Ahmed Jamil Baccora, a member of the Syrian National Coalition in Ankara. If they pick the losing party, they fear they might be stripped of their citizenship, he added. […]

There are dozens of cases of the personal information of foreigners with Turkish passports being shared online alongside speculation about which party they will vote for. ‘Until now, many Syrians want to distance themselves from the elections to protect themselves from any reprisals that deprive them of Turkish citizenship,’ said Ahmed.“ (Levkowitz, 19. April 2023)

The New Arab, eine in katarischem Besitz befindliche, in London ansässige englischsprachige Nachrichtenwebseite mit Schwerpunkt auf dem Nahen Osten und Nordafrika.

·      New Arab (The): Fears among Syrian refugees in Turkey as thousands face citizenship withdrawal, 14. Juni 2024
https://www.newarab.com/news/thousands-syrians-turkey-fear-citizenship-withdrawal

„Thousands of Syrian refugees in Turkey fear they could be stripped of their Turkish citizenship amid rumours that the process has already happened to 5,000 Syrians.

Unconfirmed reports stated that lists of those whose citizenship is due to be withdrawn will be released in the coming days or weeks, and will include multiple nationalities, not just Syrians.

While there has been no official word on the claims, the report has sparked fears among Syrians with Turkish nationality amid a wave of anti-refugee sentiment in Turkey.

After the current Turkish government was formed following elections in mid-2023, a campaign to deport Syrians has been underway with President Tayyip Erdogan pledging to ‘voluntarily’ return one million Syrian refugees to their country. […]

However, Turkish lawyer Abdulkadir Fleifel said that ‘citizenship won't be revoked after being granted except if the papers are inauthentic or forged, or due to issues related to state security. Otherwise, the holder of citizenship will be held accountable for violations or crimes committed after obtaining citizenship in the same way as any Turkish citizen’.

According to a 2009 ruling, the Turkish government can revoke citizenship if applicants provided false information or documentation in their applications.

Other grounds included working for a foreign country against Turkey's interests, serving a hostile country during war, doing military service in a foreign country without permission, committing serious crimes, or carrying out acts on behalf of terrorists or funding them.

Ahmed Hassan, a researcher specialised in Turkish affairs told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that since the current government was formed, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya has adopted what he calls ‘a correctional line’ on citizenship and residency permits.

He has launched investigations into citizenship applications and cases where citizenship has been granted, to address instances in which fake documentation was used, or other violations have been committed, says Hassan.

For those informed that their citizenship has been withdrawn, Hassan says they will have a three-month window in which to appoint lawyers to make an application to restore their citizenship.” (The New Arab, 14. Juni 2024)

·      New Arab (The): Fear of more violence against Syrians in Turkey after teenager leaks personal data, 5. Juli 2024
https://www.newarab.com/news/syrians-fear-violence-turkey-teenager-leaks-personal-data

„The data breach comes as Syrian refugees, who have escaped conflict in their country, face increasing hostility in Turkey including fatal violence.

The leaked data now raises fears of further violence and worries that mobs will use information of addresses to hunt down refugee families and individuals.

Turkey has been gripped by anti-Syrian race riots since Sunday, following reports that a Syrian man sexually harassed and abused a child in the central Turkish city of Kayseri.” (The New Arab, 5. Juli 2024)

Reuters ist eine internationale Nachrichtenagentur.

·      Reuters: Syrians in Turkey fear for future after Erdogan plans talks with Assad, 8. Juli 2024
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrians-turkey-fear-future-after-erdogan-plans-talks-with-assad-2024-07-08/

"’There are fears that Erdogan will make a deal with Assad and send the Syrians back’ to Damascus-held parts of the country, said Samir Alabdullah, of the non-profit Harmoon Centre for Contemporary Studies in Istanbul.

‘There are also those who fear they will be stripped of their Turkish citizenship,’ he said of some of Turkey's more than three million Syrian war migrants. […]

Ahmad, 19, a Syrian student in Istanbul's Eyupsultan district, said his family is considering selling their properties in Turkey due to the anti-immigrant unrest.

‘They are scared even though they have Turkish citizenship,’ he said, declining to give a surname for security reasons.” (Reuters, 8. Juli 2024)

·      Reuters: Syrians feel growing pressure from Turkey's anti-migrant political wave, 22. September 2023
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrians-feel-growing-pressure-turkeys-anti-migrant-political-wave-2023-09-22/

„Anti-migrant sentiment, economic woes and political pressures are leading some of the 3.3 millions Syrians living in Turkey to plan a return to Syria or seek shelter in Europe, according to migrants interviewed by Reuters.

They are concerned that rhetoric against migrants may rear up in campaigning for March local elections, echoing efforts to tap into nationalist sentiments during May's general elections. […]

‘We are blamed and scapegoated for the worsening economy. Discrimination is rising. It is becoming impossible for us to live here,’ he told Reuters, declining to give his name for security reasons.” (Reuters, 22. September 2023)

Das Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) ist eine in London ansässige, 2006 gegründete Nichtregierungsorganisation.

·      SOHR – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Illegal deportation of Syrian refugees | Ankara continues its efforts to change demography of north Syria region, 9. Juni 2024
https://www.syriahr.com/en/335779/

„As the Syrian Observatory has been monitoring and tracking all developments regarding the forcibly deportation of Syrian refugees from Turkey, we documented the forcible deportation of 644 Syrian refugees, mostly carrying the temporary protection card ‘Kimlik,’ in batches since early 2024.” (SOHR, 9. Juni 2024)

Syria Direct ist eine in Amman gegründete und jetzt in Deutschland registrierte nichtprofitorientierte Medienorganisation.

·      Syria Direct: A fading dream: Turkey ‘no longer a safe haven’ for Syrians, citizens and refugees alike, 12. August 2022
https://syriadirect.org/a-fading-dream-turkey-no-longer-a-safe-haven-for-syrians-citizens-and-refugees-alike/

„These recent events highlight a sentiment expressed by many Syrians in the country that they feel ‘rejected,’ and that ‘hatred’ towards them is more than incidents exaggerated by the media. Even some who hold Turkish citizenship feel this way. Citizenship ‘is no longer a safe haven for us,’ said Ahmad Bakr, a 25-year-old from Idlib province who became a Turkish citizen alongside his parents four years ago. […]

In June, he went to open a bank account in Ankara. As soon as he showed his Turkish ID, he said the employee told him ‘The place of birth is Aleppo. It isn’t possible to open an account for you.‘ He replied ‘I’m a Turkish citizen,’ but that didn’t change anything,’ al-Karim recalled. Later, he was able to open an account with the same bank online. ’The employee was racist, there was no problem with the transaction.’

Having Turkish citizenship functionally protects al-Karim, but ‘on the ground, I’m treated as a Syrian,’ he said. ‘Racism in Turkey has become like a torrential flood—you can’t stand and face this flood.’ […]

‘Legally, I’m a Turkish citizen. But socially, Turkish citizenship can’t change how we’re seen,‘ Bakr said. ‘Any public employee can treat you as a refugee and a foreigner,‘ and although ‘our legal status is good, it doesn’t dispel our fears of the street.’” (Syria Direct, 12. August 2022)

Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) ist eine nichtprofitorientierte Menschenrechtsorganisation, deren Schwerpunkt auf der Dokumentation von Menschenrechtsverletzungen in Syrien liegt.

·      STJ – Syrians for Truth and Justice: “He Looks Syrian; Get off and Ask for His kimlik”.“Voluntary Return by Coercion”: Turkish Authorities Forcibly Deport Thousands of Syrians to Unsafety, 18. September 2023
https://stj-sy.org/en/he-looks-syrian-get-off-and-ask-for-his-kimlik/

“’The situation now is as follows: deportations are carried out against people without kimliks, with kimliks, and those with infractions, even if their infractions are minor. Before this campaign, those who violated the travel permit regulations were not deported to Syria. Rather, they were transferred to Kilis Camp for a day. After that, they would return to their province of registration and do weekly visits to the [migration department] and thumbprint sign [documents proving they are present in the province]. Currently, those who violate these regulations are being sent to the Kilis Camp for a day or two and then deported to Syria.’

The source added:

‘Today (on 17 July 2023), a batch of about 72 people arrived at the crossing. I wandered among them and asked [about their legal status]. All of them did not possess kimliks. Additionally, I saw three deported families headed by three women. Two of these families committed the violation of residing in Istanbul even though they had their kimliks issued in a different province. They stayed there without travel permits. Previously, only women involved in criminal cases were deported. Today, women are deported for infractions. [The Turkish authorities] also deported gay asylum seekers.’ (STJ, 18. September 2023)

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