Amnesty calls EU to assist Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 23, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turkey should abandon its policy of geographic limitations on the admission of persons of non-European origin, who according to Turkish law, cannot be recognized as refugees, according to a report released yesterday by Amnesty International.
Currently only asylum-seekers from Council of Europe member states can remain within the borders of Turkey as refugees, according to the report called "Stranded: Refugees in Turkey Denied Protection."
Due to Turkey’s refusal to allow non-Europeans to apply for refugee status, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, has undertaken the task of assessing the claims of non-European asylum-seekers. According to Turkish asylum regulation, all persons wishing to seek asylum must present themselves to the national authorities, while non-European asylum-seekers are also required to register with UNHCR. Once asylum-seekers are registered, they are dispersed to a designated "satellite city" where they must reside until such time as they have been recognized as refugees or, in the case of non-Europeans, resettled in a third country.
Amnesty called upon the EU to grant further technical assistance to Turkey in meeting international standards, as well as to share responsibility.
Due to Turkey’s refusal to allow non-Europeans to apply for refugee status, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, has undertaken the task of assessing the claims of non-European asylum-seekers. According to Turkish asylum regulation, all persons wishing to seek asylum must present themselves to the national authorities, while non-European asylum-seekers are also required to register with UNHCR. Once asylum-seekers are registered, they are dispersed to a designated "satellite city" where they must reside until such time as they have been recognized as refugees or, in the case of non-Europeans, resettled in a third country.
Amnesty called upon the EU to grant further technical assistance to Turkey in meeting international standards, as well as to share responsibility.