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Türkiye’nin Mülteci ve Sığınma Politikasını Yeniden Düşünmek

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 242 - 256, 30.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.54282/inijoss.1649123

Abstract

Suriye İç Savaşı, 21. yüzyılda görülen en büyük sığınmacı patlamasına yol açmıştır. Kaçan kişilerin sayısı ve bunların uluslararası sınırları geçme hızı birleştiğinde, bu durum bir krize evrilmiştir. Mevcut kriz, İkinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında ortaya çıkan krizden farklı olsa da buna yönelik uluslararası tepki büyük ölçüde tanıdıktır. Bu krizin ardından birçok devlet mülteci ve sığınma politikalarını değiştirmiştir. Bu politikalar, mülteci ve sığınmacılara ilişkin uluslararası hukuk çerçevesinin dışında görünse de aslında uluslararası hukuka uygun görünmektedir. Devletlerin bu tepkileri yalnızca kendi çıkarlarına yönelik politikalardan değil, aynı zamanda mültecilik ve sığınmaya ilişkin uluslararası hukuk mevzuatından kaynaklanmaktadır. Bu makale, Türkiye’nin mülteci ve sığınmacı politikasında yaşanan dönüşümü analiz etmektedir. Türkiye son yıllarda mülteci ve sığınmacı akınlarını düzenlemeye yönelik kurumsal bir çerçeve oluşturan yeni ve kapsamlı bir politika uygulamaya koymuştur. Türk hükümetinin son yıllarda çıkardığı yasalar ve düzenlemeler çalışmanın odak noktasını oluşturmaktadır. İlk olarak çalışma, uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sisteminin ulusal güvenlik kaygısına dayandığını açıklamaktadır. Bu noktada çalışma, mevcut uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sistemindeki eksikliklerin, devletlerin insan güvenliğini ihmal etmesinin önünü açtığı iddia etmektedir. İkinci olarak çalışma, Türk hükümetinin ulusal güvenliğe öncelik verirken mülteciler ve sığınmacılara yönelik attığı adımları analiz etmektedir. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’deki hukuki düzenlemelerin ulusal güvenliğe öncelik veren mevcut uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sistemiyle uyumlu olduğunu savunmaktadır.

References

  • Adelman, H. (2001). From Refugees to Forced Migration: The UNHCR and Human Security. International Migration Review 35(1), 7-32.
  • Agier, M. (2011). Managing The Undesirables. Translated by David Fernbach, Polity Press.
  • Al Khatieb, M. (2015). Turkey Suriye Sınırındaki Kapıları Niçin Kapattı?[Why did Turkey shut down its border check-points?] (Almonitor, 18 March 2015), http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/tr/originals/2015/03/syria-turkey-close-border-bab-al-salam-security-measures.html.
  • Behrman, S. (2018). Refugee Law as a Means of Control. Journal of Refugee Studies, 32(1), 42-62.
  • Berti, B. (2015). The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Regional and Human Security Implications. Strategic Assessment 17(4), 41-53.
  • Carens, J. (2013). The Ethics of Immigration. Oxford University Press.
  • Chatty, D. (2021). Introduction to Special Issue: Displaced Syrians. The Journal of Refugee Studies 34(2), 1284-1290.
  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (adopted 10 December 1984, entered into force 26 June 1987), https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel-inhuman-or-degrading
  • Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’ (adopted 4 November 1950, entered into force 3 September 1953) https://www.eods.eu/library/CoE_European%20Convention%20for%20the%20Protection%20of%20Human%20Rights%20and%20Fundamental%20Freedoms_1950_EN.pdf
  • Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted 28 July 1951, entered into force 22 April 1954) https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-relating-status-refugees
  • Davutoğlu, A. (2012). Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, http://www.mfa.gov.tr/speech-delivered-by-mr_-ahmet-davuto%C4%9Flu_-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of -the-republic-of-turkey-at-the-un-security-council_30-august-2012_-new-york.en.mfa
  • Dummet, M. (2001). On Immigration and Refugees. Routledge.
  • Edwards, A. (2009). Human Security and the Rights of Refugees: Transcending Territorial and Disciplinary Borders’. Michigan Journal of International Law,30(3), 763-807.
  • Ferracioli, L. (2014). The Appeal and Danger of a New Refugee Convention. Social Theory and Practice 40(1), 123-144.
  • Gatrell, P. (2017). Refugees-What’s Wrong with History. The Journal of Refugee Studies 30(2), 170-189.
  • Gibney, M. J. (2015). Refugees And Justice Between States. European Journal of Political Theory 14(4), 464-480.
  • Hurwitz, A. (2009). The Collective Responsibility of States to Protect Refugees. Oxford University Press. İçduygu, A. & Deniz Yükseker (2012). Rethinking Transit Migration in Turkey: Reality and Re-presentation in the Creation of a Migratory Phenomenon. Population, Space and Place, 18, 441-456.
  • İçduygu, A. & Keyman, F. (2000). Globalization, Security, and Migration: The Case of Turkey. Global Governance 6(3), 383-398.
  • Ineli-Ciger, M. (2017). Protecting Syrians in Turkey: A Legal Analysis. International Journal of Refugee Law, 29(4), 555-579. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976) https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
  • Kirişçi, K. (1996). Is Turkey Lifting the Geographical Limitation? The November 1994 Regulation on Asylum in Turkey. International Journal of Refugee Law 8(3), 297-298.
  • Kirişçi, K. (2013). Turkish Asylum Policy and Human Rights. In Z. F K. Arat (Eds.), Human Rights in Turkey, (pp.170-184). University of Pennsylvania Press.
  • Kleist, J. O. (2017). History of Refugee Protection: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges. The Journal of Refugee Studies 30(2), 161-169.
  • Matthew, L. (2013). Who are Refugees?. Law and Philosophy 32(5), 645-671.
  • Moore, W. H. & Shellman S. M. (2007). Whither Will They Go? A Global Study of Refugees’ Destinations, 1965–1995. International Studies Quarterly 51(4), 811-834.
  • Nuray Babacan, Turkey builds 700 kilometers long wall on Syrian Border (hurriyetdailynews 15 June 2017) http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-builds-700-kilometer-long-wall-on-syrian-border-114336 Protocol Relating to Status of Refugees (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 4 October1967). https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/protocol-relating-status-refugees Regulation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (17 March 2016), <https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain? page=search&docid=5747fb7a4&skip=0&query=Regulation%20of%20the%20Law%20on%20Foreigners%20and%20International%20Protection
  • Regulation on Work Permit of International Protection Applicants and International Protection Status Holders (26 April 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=582c6ff54&skip=0&query=Law%20on%20International%20Labor%20&coi=TUR Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection (15 January 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain? page=search&docid=582c71464&skip=0&query=Work%20Permits%20for%20Persons%20with%20the%20Temporary%20Protection%20Status&coi=TUR
  • Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection (15 January 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=582c71464&skip=0&query=Work%20Permits%20for%20Persons%20with%20the%20Temporary%20Protection%20Status&coi=TUR
  • Reyhanlı Saldırıları [Attacks in Reyhanlı] (BBC, 13 May 2013), http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2013/05/130513_reyhanlida_ne_oldu. Şanlıurfa Suruçta Büyük Patlama [A Big Explosion in Suruç, Şanlıurfa] (Hürriyet, 20 July 2015), http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sanliurfa-suructa-buyuk-patlama-29591017
  • Shacknove, A. E. (1985). Who Is a Refugee?. Ethics, 95(2), 274-284.
  • Singer, P. & Singer, R. (1988). The Ethics of Refuge Policy’. In M. Gibney (Eds.), Open Borders? Closed Societies? The Ethical and Political Issues, (pp.111-130), Greenwood Press.
  • Struggling to Survive: Refugees from Syria in Turkey (Amnesty International, 20 November 2014), https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR44/017/2014/en/
  • Temporary Protection Regulation (22 October 2014), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=56572fd74&skip=0&query=Temporary%20Protection%20Regulation
  • Türkiye: Suriyeliler Sınırda Geri İtiliyor [Turkey: Syrians pushed back at the border] (HRW, 23 November 2015), https://www.hrw.org/tr/news/2015/11/23/283650.
  • UNCHR Global Trend Report (2022), https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-report-2022. UNCHR Operational Update-Syria (2023), https://www.unhcr.org/sy/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/UNHCR-Syria-Operational-update-August-2023-1.pdf
  • UNDP Human Development Report (Oxford University Press 1994) 23, 24 https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-1994
  • Waisová, Š. (2003). Human Security: The Contemporary Paradigm?. Perspectives, 20, 58-72. 6458 Numbered Law on Foreigners and International Protection (2013) https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?docid=5a1d828f4 6735 Numbered Law on International Labor [Uluslararası İş Gücü Kanunu] (28 July 2016) https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.6735.pdf

Rethinking Turkey’s Refugee and Asylum Policy

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 242 - 256, 30.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.54282/inijoss.1649123

Abstract

The Syrian Civil War led to an explosion of asylum seekers, the largest seen in the 21st century. The number of persons fleeing, coupled with the rate at which they crossed international borders, have earned this outflow the title of a crisis. Although the current crisis is distinct from the one produced during the World War II, the international reaction to it is disturbingly familiar. In the wake of this crisis, many states introduced new or altered existing refugee or asylum policies. The pattern of policies, though seemingly outside the framework of international law on refugees and asylum seekers, falls well within it. In the context of the recent crisis, the uncaring reactions from governments not only stem from several self-interested policies but also from the international refugee and asylum legal system. This article explores how Turkey’s refugee and asylum policy evolved. Turkey has recently introduced a new comprehensive policy that establishes an institutional framework for dealing with refugee and asylum seekers flows. The focus of the article is on laws and regulations that the Turkish government has passed in recent years. First, it explains how the international refugee and asylum system is based on national security concern. It suggests that the shortcomings within the current international refugee and asylum system pave the way for states to neglect human security. Second, it addresses the steps taken by the Turkish government regarding refugees and asylum seekers. It argues that the Turkish laws and regulations are in line with the current refugee and asylum system that gives priority to national security over human security.

Thanks

I am deeply grateful to Dr. Natasha Duncan for her invaluable insights, particularly regarding the dual lens of human security and national security in understanding refugee issues, which enriched this paper.

References

  • Adelman, H. (2001). From Refugees to Forced Migration: The UNHCR and Human Security. International Migration Review 35(1), 7-32.
  • Agier, M. (2011). Managing The Undesirables. Translated by David Fernbach, Polity Press.
  • Al Khatieb, M. (2015). Turkey Suriye Sınırındaki Kapıları Niçin Kapattı?[Why did Turkey shut down its border check-points?] (Almonitor, 18 March 2015), http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/tr/originals/2015/03/syria-turkey-close-border-bab-al-salam-security-measures.html.
  • Behrman, S. (2018). Refugee Law as a Means of Control. Journal of Refugee Studies, 32(1), 42-62.
  • Berti, B. (2015). The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Regional and Human Security Implications. Strategic Assessment 17(4), 41-53.
  • Carens, J. (2013). The Ethics of Immigration. Oxford University Press.
  • Chatty, D. (2021). Introduction to Special Issue: Displaced Syrians. The Journal of Refugee Studies 34(2), 1284-1290.
  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (adopted 10 December 1984, entered into force 26 June 1987), https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel-inhuman-or-degrading
  • Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms’ (adopted 4 November 1950, entered into force 3 September 1953) https://www.eods.eu/library/CoE_European%20Convention%20for%20the%20Protection%20of%20Human%20Rights%20and%20Fundamental%20Freedoms_1950_EN.pdf
  • Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (adopted 28 July 1951, entered into force 22 April 1954) https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-relating-status-refugees
  • Davutoğlu, A. (2012). Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, http://www.mfa.gov.tr/speech-delivered-by-mr_-ahmet-davuto%C4%9Flu_-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of -the-republic-of-turkey-at-the-un-security-council_30-august-2012_-new-york.en.mfa
  • Dummet, M. (2001). On Immigration and Refugees. Routledge.
  • Edwards, A. (2009). Human Security and the Rights of Refugees: Transcending Territorial and Disciplinary Borders’. Michigan Journal of International Law,30(3), 763-807.
  • Ferracioli, L. (2014). The Appeal and Danger of a New Refugee Convention. Social Theory and Practice 40(1), 123-144.
  • Gatrell, P. (2017). Refugees-What’s Wrong with History. The Journal of Refugee Studies 30(2), 170-189.
  • Gibney, M. J. (2015). Refugees And Justice Between States. European Journal of Political Theory 14(4), 464-480.
  • Hurwitz, A. (2009). The Collective Responsibility of States to Protect Refugees. Oxford University Press. İçduygu, A. & Deniz Yükseker (2012). Rethinking Transit Migration in Turkey: Reality and Re-presentation in the Creation of a Migratory Phenomenon. Population, Space and Place, 18, 441-456.
  • İçduygu, A. & Keyman, F. (2000). Globalization, Security, and Migration: The Case of Turkey. Global Governance 6(3), 383-398.
  • Ineli-Ciger, M. (2017). Protecting Syrians in Turkey: A Legal Analysis. International Journal of Refugee Law, 29(4), 555-579. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23 March 1976) https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
  • Kirişçi, K. (1996). Is Turkey Lifting the Geographical Limitation? The November 1994 Regulation on Asylum in Turkey. International Journal of Refugee Law 8(3), 297-298.
  • Kirişçi, K. (2013). Turkish Asylum Policy and Human Rights. In Z. F K. Arat (Eds.), Human Rights in Turkey, (pp.170-184). University of Pennsylvania Press.
  • Kleist, J. O. (2017). History of Refugee Protection: Conceptual and Methodological Challenges. The Journal of Refugee Studies 30(2), 161-169.
  • Matthew, L. (2013). Who are Refugees?. Law and Philosophy 32(5), 645-671.
  • Moore, W. H. & Shellman S. M. (2007). Whither Will They Go? A Global Study of Refugees’ Destinations, 1965–1995. International Studies Quarterly 51(4), 811-834.
  • Nuray Babacan, Turkey builds 700 kilometers long wall on Syrian Border (hurriyetdailynews 15 June 2017) http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-builds-700-kilometer-long-wall-on-syrian-border-114336 Protocol Relating to Status of Refugees (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 4 October1967). https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/protocol-relating-status-refugees Regulation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (17 March 2016), <https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain? page=search&docid=5747fb7a4&skip=0&query=Regulation%20of%20the%20Law%20on%20Foreigners%20and%20International%20Protection
  • Regulation on Work Permit of International Protection Applicants and International Protection Status Holders (26 April 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=582c6ff54&skip=0&query=Law%20on%20International%20Labor%20&coi=TUR Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection (15 January 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain? page=search&docid=582c71464&skip=0&query=Work%20Permits%20for%20Persons%20with%20the%20Temporary%20Protection%20Status&coi=TUR
  • Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners under Temporary Protection (15 January 2016), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=582c71464&skip=0&query=Work%20Permits%20for%20Persons%20with%20the%20Temporary%20Protection%20Status&coi=TUR
  • Reyhanlı Saldırıları [Attacks in Reyhanlı] (BBC, 13 May 2013), http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2013/05/130513_reyhanlida_ne_oldu. Şanlıurfa Suruçta Büyük Patlama [A Big Explosion in Suruç, Şanlıurfa] (Hürriyet, 20 July 2015), http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sanliurfa-suructa-buyuk-patlama-29591017
  • Shacknove, A. E. (1985). Who Is a Refugee?. Ethics, 95(2), 274-284.
  • Singer, P. & Singer, R. (1988). The Ethics of Refuge Policy’. In M. Gibney (Eds.), Open Borders? Closed Societies? The Ethical and Political Issues, (pp.111-130), Greenwood Press.
  • Struggling to Survive: Refugees from Syria in Turkey (Amnesty International, 20 November 2014), https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR44/017/2014/en/
  • Temporary Protection Regulation (22 October 2014), https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=search&docid=56572fd74&skip=0&query=Temporary%20Protection%20Regulation
  • Türkiye: Suriyeliler Sınırda Geri İtiliyor [Turkey: Syrians pushed back at the border] (HRW, 23 November 2015), https://www.hrw.org/tr/news/2015/11/23/283650.
  • UNCHR Global Trend Report (2022), https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends-report-2022. UNCHR Operational Update-Syria (2023), https://www.unhcr.org/sy/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/UNHCR-Syria-Operational-update-August-2023-1.pdf
  • UNDP Human Development Report (Oxford University Press 1994) 23, 24 https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-1994
  • Waisová, Š. (2003). Human Security: The Contemporary Paradigm?. Perspectives, 20, 58-72. 6458 Numbered Law on Foreigners and International Protection (2013) https://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?docid=5a1d828f4 6735 Numbered Law on International Labor [Uluslararası İş Gücü Kanunu] (28 July 2016) https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/1.5.6735.pdf
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Turkish Political Life
Journal Section Makaleler
Authors

Mehmet Kocaoglu 0000-0002-1104-4223

Early Pub Date June 26, 2025
Publication Date June 30, 2025
Submission Date February 28, 2025
Acceptance Date June 12, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 14 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kocaoglu, M. (2025). Rethinking Turkey’s Refugee and Asylum Policy. İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 14(1), 242-256. https://doi.org/10.54282/inijoss.1649123