Refugees in Turkey denied protection
28 May 2009, 11:08AM
Refugees in Turkey are denied their rights
Amnesty International has released a report, Stranded: Refugees in Turkey denied protection, that highlights the many dangers facing people seeking protection in Turkey.
Asylum seekers who arrive at Turkey’s borders are prevented from accessing their internationally recognised rights and are denied asylum. Amnesty International’s recent report shows that Turkey fails to uphold its responsibilities in international law to provide adequate protection to those who are vulnerable and fleeing persecution.
Asylum seekers are often arbitrarily detained for long periods of time and forcibly returned to countries where they face serious human rights abuses. Those who are permitted to apply for refugee status are denied a fair determination and are faced with severe restrictions on access to health, housing or work.
Turkey is the only nation in the world to discriminate against asylum seekers based on their country of origin. Turkey maintains a geographical limitation to the Refugee Convention and only “European” asylum-seekers can apply for refugee status.
Despite this limitation, Turkey remains a country of asylum for thousands of persons from non-European countries. Asylum-seekers arrive from countries including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia among others seeking protection. However, they are put at further danger by Turkey’s unfair discrimination and failure to protect.
The report shows the Turkish Government's disregard for international law and gross failure to meet international standards for the protection of asylum seekers. Amnesty International calls for Turkey to respect the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and others who are in need of international protection.
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