Syrians struggling to obtain Turkish citizenship consider other countries
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Syrians living in Turkey face complications in obtaining exceptional Turkish citizenship, in addition to the lack of job opportunities and bad living conditions.
The Turkish government recently removed thousands of listed Syrians from a database of those applying for citizenship, which disappointed them and urged them to consider travelling to other countries that grant them documents and recognize them as refugees.
Turkish authorities issued a decision last month in order to re-study the Syrians’ files regarding citizenship, the something which angered most Syrians who had waited long periods for their decisions.
On Facebook groups and pages concerned about Turkish citizenship matters, Syrians posted expressing their will to travel to other countries.
Syrians have different alternatives regarding the countries where they will travel, whether through high price smuggling or a more regular method.
Meanwhile, some Syrian refugees prefer to return home, with one stating, “There is no place like home; we would be refugees whatever nationality we obtained and wherever we lived.”
Qays Hasan, an activist living in Istanbul, told North Press, “The real problem is that obtaining citizenship has become an urgent demand due to the Syrian government obstinacy in finding a solution for the Syrian crisis.”
He added, “Some Syrians who were rejected for citizenship after months of waiting will try to travel to another country where they can obtain civil rights, such as a nationality.”
Majority prefer Germany, “Taking into consideration that this is considered a risk that may cost many their lives.” Hasan stated that Syrians became victims of military and political international understandings.
In July, Department of Naturalization in Turkey stated that those who want to obtain exceptional citizenship through the purchase of a property or a bank deposit must certify their document in Syrian Consulate and its Foreign Affairs Ministry in Syria.
Some Syrians pointed out that the Turkish government had to facilitate conditions for those who wanted to buy a real estate, invest in Turkey, or make a bank charge in order to obtain citizenship, but would not issue a decision on their cases.
Turkey houses about 4,000,000 Syrians, according to Turkish official statistics.
About 92,280 people obtained Turkish citizenship after one or two years of the four stages of naturalization, according to statements of the Immigration and Passports Department and the Turkish Ministry of Interior, while the Turkish government allowed those of any nationality who buy any property worth $250,000 to obtain Turkish citizenship within 30 days.