From 19th Century to Syrian Civil War: South America as a Syrian Migration Destination and the Case of Brazil

Year 2017, Special Issue-1 Middle East and Migration, 34 - 49, 30.11.2017

Segah Tekin

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.313047

Abstract

Since
the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, many South American countries have
declared open door policies for the Syrians seeking refuge. Although the number
of people who have reached South America is
quite low, the attitude of South American countries has gained special international attention due to political, social
and historical reasons. In this respect, Brazil has a special status as the
main destination of immigration from the Levant to South America since the 19th
century. Brazil is already the home of a large Syrian diaspora. The country has
accepted 2,298 Syrian refugees since the beginning of the civil war according
to the official data and hosts more Syrians whose application process is
ongoing. Today Brazil is the main receiver of the Syrian refugees in South
America. This paper discusses the underlying reasons of recent open door policy
of South American states, thecurrent
situation of Syrian refugees in the region and the problems encountered at the
level of policy-making and policy
implementation phases with a special emphasis on the developments in Brazil

Keywords

Syria, Brazil, South America, migration, refugee

19. Yüzyıldan Suriye İç Savaşına: Suriyeliler için Göç Destinasyonu Olarak Güney Amerika ve Brezilya Örneği

Abstract

Suriye’deki
iç savaşın başladığı 2011 yılından bu yana pek çok Güney Amerika ülkesi, iltica
etmek isteyen Suriyelilere açık kapı politikası uygulayacaklarını ilan
etmişlerdir. Her ne kadar Güney Amerika’ya ulaşabilen kişi sayısı az olsa da
Güney Amerika ülkelerinin bu tutumu siyasal, sosyal ve tarihsel nedenlerle
uluslararası alanda dikkat çekmiştir. Bu açıdan Doğu Akdeniz’den Güney
Amerika’ya 19. yüzyılda yaşanan göç hareketinin ana destinasyonu olan Brezilya,
özel bir konuma sahiptir. Brezilya, halihazırda sayıları dört milyona ulaşan
kalabalık bir Suriyeli diaspora nüfusuna ev sahipliği yapmaktadır. Ülke, iç
savaşın başlangıcından bu yana resmi verilere göre 2,298 Suriye vatandaşına
iltica hakkı tanımıştır ve başvuru işlemleri süren daha fazla sayıdaki
Suriyeliye ev sahipliği yapmaktadır. Günümüzde Brezilya, Güney Amerika’da en
fazla sayıda Suriyeli mülteciye ev sahipliği yapan ülkedir. Bu çalışma, Güney
Amerika ülkelerinin yakın geçmişte uygulamaya başladıkları açık kapı
politikasının ortaya çıkışındaki nedenleri, bölgedeki Suriyeli mültecilerin
hali hazırdaki durumunu ve politika yapımı düzeyinde ve mültecilere yönelik
politikaların uygulaması sürecinde karşılaşılan zorlukları Brezilya’daki
gelişmelere özel atıfla incelemektedir.

Keywords

Suriye, Brezilya, Güney Amerika, göç, mülteci

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