Türkiye’s immigration policies increasing racist reactions

Like many others, I have been watching Türkiye’s policies regarding immigrants, refugees, and foreigners, especially the citizenship process, with growing concern for a long time. The lack of transparency, ambiguous statistics, and the failure to clearly articulate the purpose of the pursued policies have transformed this process into one of the worst examples in the world.

Last summer, during an international meeting in Como, a conversation I had with a Maronite Lebanese minister still resonates in my mind. He said, “I still don’t understand why obtaining Turkish citizenship has become so easy. Most of my relatives became Turkish citizens by paying the required fee as a family. We only issue travel documents to Palestinian refugees who have been living in Lebanon for decades. Citizenship is a very privileged status.” These words starkly illustrate the significant negative transformation that Türkiye’s path has undergone.

Citizenship grants

While European countries require at least five years of residency for citizenship, countries such as the Gulf states and Japan grant citizenship only under very specific conditions. In contrast, Türkiye has become one of the rare countries that can easily grant citizenship for a certain price. The connection to the ummah and the requirement to purchase a property worth $400,000 to obtain citizenship seem to overshadow the other necessary criteria.

At this point, my personal opinion is that there is no harm in fully opening the doors to successful, qualified individuals who will contribute to our country. I am confident that most rational Turkish citizens would agree. Who would oppose qualified individuals such as investors, businesspeople, artists, engineers, software developers, or architects adding value to our country? Such individuals bring wealth to Türkiye. However, while the West selects the most qualified individuals, we, unfortunately, often embrace those who will drag this country down. Humanitarian considerations cannot supersede the interests of this country’s own citizens.

Türkiye’s reputation

Take a stroll down İstiklal Street in Beyoğlu, once one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in our country, and you will understand what I mean. Members of criminal organizations, potential terrorists, extremists, drug dealers, and the impoverished (funded by EU resources) who have nothing to lose are choosing Türkiye as a refuge. Even individuals wanted by Interpol can obtain Turkish citizenship. This situation is directly related to the humiliations Turkish citizens experience at the borders of European countries. Instead of granting our citizens the respect they deserve and the opportunity to rise in the global league, we are causing Türkiye to lose its reputation by hosting these individuals. The skilled human capital in our country is migrating to the West due to uncertainties and fears about the future.

According to official figures, there are a total of 4 million 425 thousand 230 foreigners with legal residency rights in our country, including 3 million 99 thousand 524 Syrians under temporary protection, 221 thousand 353 foreigners under international protection, and 1 million 104 thousand 353 foreigners with residence permits. While we cannot determine exactly how many illegal migrants and refugees there are, we can see that their numbers are significant by observing the streets, neighborhoods, workplaces, and fields.

Influx of migrants threatens the social fabric

No rational country would accept an influx of migrants and refugees that corresponds to more than 10% of its population. President Erdoğan has pointed out that returns to Syria have recently increased and claims that we are encouraging this, but it is highly likely that the vast majority will continue to stay.

An influx of migrants that reaches this ratio and provokes local population reactions seriously threatens the social fabric, ethnic structure, security, and internal peace of that country. The rapidly increasing population, insistence on using Arabic, and demands for new privileges will exacerbate discomfort and further fuel racist reactions. It is only a matter of time before Türkiye reaches a point that exceeds its capacity to manage this complexity. The government’s ability to make decisions as it wishes, despite the majority of the public opposing this policy, stems either from an ideological obsession or from significant administrative incompetence. Regardless of the situation, these developments are creating a crisis for Türkiye, and it seems inevitable that the situation will worsen.

Financial aid from EU and reccomendations

Finally, the financial aid sent by the European Union to keep these migrants in Türkiye has become a source of shame for our country (and also for the EU). Addressing this situation as a matter of national honor is necessary from both human rights and national security perspectives. The apparent “let them do it, let them pass” attitude in our immigration and refugee policies must be re-evaluated, and the citizenship process should be bound by stricter criteria and managed in a transparent and fair manner, as it has become a necessity for the future of our country.

Recommendations:

• Türkiye’s immigration and refugee policies should be made more transparent, with clear criteria established for which groups will be accepted. A fair and transparent approach should be adopted regarding the citizenship process, prioritizing individuals who can create added value based on their qualifications.
• More active measures should be taken to provide shelter and economic support, and efforts to resolve issues in the home countries of illegal migrants should be increased. More inclusive development policies and labor opportunities should be created in coordination with the EU, the US, and international organizations to prevent the influx of refugees. This way, people will not have to migrate. Those currently present should be registered, and where necessary, they should be compelled to return by facing strict rules.
• The EU should channel the financial aid sent to Türkiye for this purpose into projects aimed at the long-term welfare and security of migrants in their home countries, rather than producing temporary solutions. Additionally, EU countries should adopt a fairer and more equitable approach when accepting migrants by tightening control over their borders and should work in a more coordinated manner with Türkiye to address the root of the problem.

There is no need to be a fortune teller: if things continue this way, Türkiye’s long-term welfare, security, standing in the international community, and future will be further overshadowed.