The Refugee in Law and Practice: In the Face of Western States’ Pushback Policies

Year 2022, , 159 - 203, 29.06.2022

Ekin Deniz Uzun

https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2022.42.1.927100

Abstract

The present Article revisits the refugee definition and the non-refoulement principle in the context of some western states’ pushback policies under international law. Recent incidents have shown that some western states have pushed back refugees by employing a nativist approach for political ends. In addition, mentioned western states in many situations have made references to produced false narratives about refugees to justify their illicit actions. By bringing the refugee definition of international law to light, this Article aims to set forth the illegality of these states’ goal of manipulating the existing legal definitions. To this end, the Article first explains what a refugee is in international law, freeing it from the above-mentioned false narratives. Second, the analysis establishes the illegality of refugees’ pushback under international law, which contradicts the non-refoulement principle. Furthermore, potential solutions to suppress the states’ illegal actions within the scope of pushbacks will be discussed separately by this Article. Finally, to conclude, the Article points that states find ways to create legal loopholes by ignoring the recognized rights of refugees. But it also underlines that being determined to find solutions that will deactivate pushback policies is essential to ensure that every alien has the right to seek asylum.

Keywords

Refugee, non-refoulement, international law, pushback policies, western states

Batılı Devletlerin Geri İtme Politikaları Karşısında Hukuk ve Uygulamada Mülteci

Abstract

Bu makale, bazı batılı devletlerin geri itme politikaları bağlamında uluslararası hukuk kapsamında mülteci tanımını ve geri göndermeme ilkesini yeniden gözden geçirmektedir. Son olaylar, bazı batılı devletlerin siyasi amaçlar için ulusun yerli halkının hak ve çıkarlarını gözeten bir yaklaşım kullanarak mültecileri geri ittiğini göstermiştir. Birçok durumda adı geçen batılı devletler, yasadışı eylemlerini haklı çıkarmak için mülteciler hakkında yanlış anlatılara atıfta bulunmuşlardır. Bu makale, uluslararası hukukun mülteci tanımını gün ışığına çıkararak, bu devletlerin mevcut yasal tanımları manipüle etme hedefinin hukuka aykırılığını ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu yönde, ilk olarak, makale uluslararası hukukta mültecinin ne olduğunu, yukarıda belirtilen yanlış anlatılardan bağımsızlaştırarak açıklamaktadır. Devam eden analiz, ikinci olarak, mültecilerin uluslararası hukuka göre geri itilmesinin yasadışı olduğunu ve bu durumun geri göndermeme ilkesiyle çeliştiğini tespit etmektedir. Devletlerin geri itme kapsamında hukuka aykırı eylemlerinin bastırılmasına yönelik olası çözümler makale kapsamında ayrıca ele alınacaktır. Nihayetinde, makale sonuç olarak, devletlerin mültecilerin haklarını görmezden gelerek, yasal boşluklar yaratma yollarını bulabileceğine işaret eder. Ancak, makale -her yabancının sığınma hakkı olduğundan emin olunması için- devletlerin geri itme politikalarını devre dışı bırakacak çözümlerde ısrar edilmesinin önemli olduğu hususunun da altını çizmektedir.

Keywords

Mülteci, uluslararası hukuk, geri itme politikaları, batılı devletler

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