Sending Back The Syrians Living in Turkey: An Assessment Within The Context of Non-Refoulement Principle in International Law

Öz

With the Syrian Civil War, Turkey has been the destination of one of the largest mass migrations resulted in the entry of approximately 4 million refugees into the country. In response, there has recently been political rhetoric and the public trend towards the forced return of foreigners. This article investigates whether Turkey can send back the asylum-seekers to their countries within the context of the non-refoulement principle. I argue that, since Turkey is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and adopted the principle in its domestic law, it cannot be able to send back asylum-seekers to their home countries.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Non-refoulement
• international law
• international refugee law
• forced migration
• Syrian refugee crisis

Türkiye'de Yaşayan Suriyelileri Geri Göndermek: Uluslararası Hukukta Geri Göndermeme İlkesi Bağlamında Bir Değerlendirme

Öz

Türkiye, Suriye İç Savaşı ile, yaklaşık 4 milyon mültecinin ülkeye girişiyle sonuçlanan yakın tarihin en büyük kitlesel göçlerden birinin hedefi olmuştur. Buna cevaben, son zamanlarda yabancıların zorla geri dönüşüne yönelik bir siyasi retorik ve kamu oyu eğilimi oluşmuştur. Bu makale, Türkiye’nin sığınmacıları geri göndermeme ilkesi kapsamında ülkelerine geri gönderip gönderemeyeceğini araştırmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin 1951 Mülteci Sözleşmesi’ne taraf olması ve bu ilkeyi iç hukukunda benimsemesi nedeniyle, sığınmacıları ülkelerine geri gönderemeyeceği savunulmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Geri vermeme ilkesi,
• uluslararası hukuk,
• uluslararası mülteci hukuku,
• zorunlu göç
• Suriye mülteci krizi
• Türk mülteci hukuku

Kaynakça

1. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter). (1987). https://www.achpr.org/legalinstruments/detail?id=49#:~:text=The%20African%20Charter%20on%20Human,freedoms%20in%20the%20African%20continent.
2. Akar, S. & Erdoğdu, M. (2019). Syrian Refugees in Turkey and Integration Problem Ahead. Journal of International Migration & Integration, 20(3), 925–940.
3. Akgündüz, Y. E., Van den Berg, M., & Hassink, W. (2015). The Impact of Refugee Crises on Host Labor Markets: The Case of the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Turkey, Discussion Paper No. 8841, The Institute for the Study of Labor.
4. Arpacık, C., (2019, 21 July). The Independent Türkçe, https://www.indyturk.com/node/53301/haber/artan-denetimlerin-ard%C4%B1ndan-ilk-kafilede-400-s%C4%B1%C4%9F%C4%B1nmac%C4%B1-idlib%E2%80%99e-geri-g%C3%B6nderildi
5. Bélanger, D., & Saracoglu, Cenk. (2019). Syrian Refugees and Turkey: Whose “Crisis”? Oxford Handbook of Migration Crises, Menjívar, Cecilia, Ruiz, Marie, & Ness, Immanuel (Eds.) Oxford: Oxford University Press.
6. Chaudhary, O.N. (2004). Turning Back an Assessment of Non-Refoulement Under Indian Law, Economic and Political Weekly, 39, 3257.
7. Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. (2019) (Eng.). https://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf
8. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. (1987). https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cat.aspx

9. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. (1951). https://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html
10. Criddle, E.J. & Fox-Decent E. The Authority of International Refugee Law, William & Mary Law Review, 62(4), 1067-1136.
11. Çelik, D.Ş. & Şemşit, S. (2020). Türkiye–Avrupa Birliği Geri Kabul Anlaşmasının Uygulanmasında Suriyelilerin Etkisi ve Rolü, [The Effect and Role of Syrians in the Implementation of the Turkey-European Union Readmission Agreement], Celal Bayar University Journal of Social Sciences, 18(Special Issue), 66–84.
12. DGMM. (n.d.). Elements of Temporary Protection. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-korumanin-unsurlari
13. Erdoğan, M. (2019). Syrian Refugees in Turkey, Kadir Has University & Konrad Adenaur Stiftung Report. (September/2019 Report).
14. European Convention on Human Rights. (1950). https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/convention_eng.pdf
15. European Council on Refugees and Exiles. (2020). Country Report: Introduction to the asylum context in Turkey, https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/turkey/introduction-asylum-context-turkey/
16. EU-Turkey Statement, (2016, 18 March). https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-turkey-statement/
17. Goodwin-Gill, G.S. & McAdam, J. (2007). The Refugee in International Law, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
18. Güler, H., (2016, May 19). Syrian refugees should not be used as bribe for visa-free travel, says EP, Hürriyet Daily News. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syrian-refugees-should-not-be-used-as-bribe-for-visa-free-travel-says-ep--99401
19. Heinrich Böll Stiftung/Turkey. (2019). Report on Turkey’s Asylum Law and Policies, (Report No.12/2019).
20. HRW. (2000). Protecting Refugees, https://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/turkey2/Turk009-10.htm
21. Içduygu, A., & Nimer, M. (2019). The politics of return: exploring the future of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Third World Quarterly, 41(3), 415-433.
22. Ineli-Ciger, M., (2017). Protecting Syrians in Turkey: A Legal Analysis, International Journal of Refugee Law, 29(4), 555–579.
23. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (1976). https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx
24. International Crisis Group. (2018, 29 January). Turkey’s Syrian Refugees: Defusing Metropolitan Tensions, https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/western-europemediterranean/turkey/248-turkeys-syrian-refugees-defusing-metropolitan-tensions
25. Koca, B. T. (2016). Syrian refugees in Turkey: from “guests” to “enemies”? New Perspectives on Turkey, 54, 55–75.
26. KONDA. (2016). Suriyeli Sığınmacılara Bakış, [A Look at Syrian Asylum-Seekers,] Şubat 16’ Barometresi, Raporu [Barometer, February ’16 Report].
27. Lauterpacht, E. & Bethlehem, D. (2003). The Scope and Content of the Principle of Non- Refoulement Opinion. Erika Feller, Volker Türk & Frances Nicholson (Eds.), Refugee Protection in International Law, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
28. Law on Foreigners and International Protection. (2013). https://en.goc.gov.tr/lfip Makovsky, A. (2019, March 13). Turkey’s Refugee Dilemma, American Progress, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/reports/2019/03/13/467183/turkeys-refugee-dilemma/
29. Marques, R. (2016). Non-Refoulement Under the Inter-American Human Rights System, “The Future of Refugee Law,” Special Edition of the Refugee Law Initiative, Working Paper No.20, 59–69.
30. Molnár, T. (2016). The principle of Non-Refoulement Under International Law: Its Inception and Evolution in Nutshell, Corvinus Journal Of International Affairs, Vol. 1, 51–61.
31. MOTTO. Hacır, G. (Moderator-Executive Producer) (2021). Şimdiki Zaman [Present Tense]. KRT.
32. Muma, E.C. (2018). The Principle of Non-Refoulement and the Obligations of the United Nations in Ensuring the Accountability of States toward Refugee Protection: Lessons from Nigeria and Cameroon, RAIS Conference Proceedings.
33. Newland, K.. (2011). Cooperative Arrangements to Share Burdens and Responsibilities in Refugee Situations Short of Mass Influx, Discussion Paper, UNHCR Expert Meeting on International Cooperation to Share Burdens and Responsibilities, 1–11.
34. Özden, Ş., (2013). Syrian Refugees in Turkey, MPC Research Report, https://cadmus.eui.eu/handle/1814/29455
35. Öztürk, F. & Yalçınalp, E. (2019, 17 December). Suriyeliler: ‘Zorla ülkeme gönderildim, kaçak yollardan Türkiye’ye döndüm’ Syrians: [‘I was forcibly sent to my country, I returned to Turkey illegally’], BBC, https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-50822718
36. Padmanabhan, V.M., (2011). To Transfer or Not To Transfer: Identifying and Protecting Relevant Human Rights Interests In Non-Refoulement, Fordham Law Review, 80(1), 73-123.
37. Rygiel, K., Baban, F., & Ilcan, S., (2016). The Syrian Refugee Crisis: The EU-Turkey ‘Deal’ and Temporary Protection, Global Social Policy, 16(3), 315–320.
38. Soering v. The United Kingdom (1989). (eng.). http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-57619
39. Statement of Minister of State Mevlut Çavuşoğlu, (2021, 12 Eylül). Aykırı, https://www.aykiri.com.tr/mevlut-cavusoglu-suriyelilerin-geri-gonderilmesi-icin-calismalari-baslattik/14160/
40. Statement of Opposition Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, (2021, 26 Ağustos). TRT, https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/kilicdaroglu-suriyelileri-davulla-zurnayla-kendi-ulkelerine-gonderecegim-604416.html
41. Strategy Document on the Projected Work in the Field of Asylum in Turkey’s European Union Accession Process, Foreingers Communication Center. (2002). https://yimer.gov.tr/TR/Legis/90a61f0f-ee10-4950-95e9-b34c63600a03
42. Suç isnat edilen Suriyeliler zorla ülkelerine gönderiliyor, [Syrians accused of crimes are forcibly sent to their countries] (2019, 12 July). Deutsche Welle, https://www.dw.com/tr/su%C3%A7-isnat-edilen-suriyeliler-zorla-%C3%BClkelerine-g%C3%B6nderiliyor/a-49559705
43. Şar, E., & Onur Kuru, N. (2020). İstanbul’da Suriyeli Sığınmacılara Yönelik Tutumlar [Attitudes Towards Syrian Refugees in Istanbul]. Araştırma Raporu [Research Report], Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung & IstanPol.
44. Temporary Protection Regulation. (2014). https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma-kanunu-ve-yonetmeligi
45. The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols. (1949). https://www.icrc.org/en/war-and-law/treaties-customary-law/geneva-conventions
46. Topal, A.H. (2015). Temporary Protection Regulation and The Legal Status of Syrians in Turkey, İstanbul Medipol University Law School Journal, 2(1), 05–22. Turkish National Action Plan on the Adoption of the European Union Acquis in the Field of Asylum and Migration. (2003). https://www.goc.gov.tr/kurumlar/goc.gov.tr/yonetmelikler/Temel-Belgeler/Iltica-Ve-Goc-Ulusal-Eylem-Plani.pdf
47. UNHCR. (1994). The Principle of Non-Refoulement as a Norm of Customary International Law. Response to the Questions Posed to UNHCR by the Federal Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cases 2 BvR 1938/93, 2 BvR 1953/93, 2 BvR 1954/93. https://www.refworld.org/docid/437b6db64.html
48. UNHCR. (2021, 31 Oct). Syria Regional Refugee Response, https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria#
49. Vilvarajah and Others v. The United Kingdom (1991). http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-57713