It’s a well-known fact that 10 million immigrants live in Turkey. Immigrants are pouring into our country from Syria and Afghanistan, as well as from various parts of the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and Asia, and even from nearly every corner of the world.
This situation has reached such a point that the sheer number of immigrants, coupled with their constant procreation after settling in the country, has become a matter of national survival. In other words, once this large number of foreigners has accumulated, they may seek to declare their independence. This discourse is particularly prevalent in reference to Syrians. It’s said that in provinces like Hatay, which were annexed to Turkey later, and in cities like Kilis, which have become hubs of trade with Syria, the number of Syrians outnumbers the number of Turks. It’s said that if all of these people were given the right to vote, they might even decide to leave our country. That’s how serious the situation is.
This immigration issue was frequently raised during the election campaign. The fact that the margin in the election was only 2.3 million votes (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received 27.8 million votes, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu 25.5 million) and that the number of foreigners granted Turkish citizenship was in the millions further fueled these debates.
Complaining Migrants
Interestingly, when you talk to Syrians who came to our country, they also say they don’t like our country. For example, I recently came across Syrians on a television channel who said they didn’t like our food. They were complaining.
In other words, instead of being grateful for free food, free schools, and free healthcare, they were complaining about their situation.
The European Union’s Position
I find the European Union’s position in this interesting equation interesting. There’s nothing unexpected about it. They’re very excited. They’re afraid of “What if all these migrants suddenly flood into Europe?” They’ve even positioned Turkey as a buffer zone to protect themselves. They’ve even pledged financial aid to Turkey in this regard. All we need is for Turkey to capture these migrants and prevent them from being released into Europe. We’ve witnessed Turkish politicians turning this situation into political rhetoric and even using it as a threat. We say there are over 10 million migrants in Turkey, but if 100,000 migrants enter any European country, it’s a major incident.
Furthermore, it’s known that migrants entering Turkey tend to be from the lowest-income and lowest-educated countries, while those in Europe are the most educated and well-rounded. In other words, doctors, engineers, and other high-profile migrants are constantly migrating to Europe, especially Germany. In Turkey, the situation is being implemented with a Rumi-style “come, come, come whoever you are” mentality, allowing all types of people to enter and find shelter in our country. This shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as a low level of education. A person may be ignorant, but if they have good character and are diligent, we still accept them. Unfortunately, murderers, thieves, and rapists all come to our country and stay. The situation has even reached such a point that migrants involved in these crimes, or those inclined to do so, can even establish criminal organizations and operate in our country. Here’s the news of a Syrian organ mafia: http://cuts2.com/Rurfs
Migrants being dumped in the middle of the sea
Of course, there’s a difference between us and the European Union. When an unfavorable situation arises, EU countries, especially Greece, ruthlessly seek ways to get rid of these migrants, and most of the time, this process ends with the migrants being deported. Beyond deportation, some countries even abandon migrants in the middle of the sea. Do you need proof? Here’s a video shared in the New York Times on this subject, showing the abandonment of migrants, including young children, by the Greek Coast Guard in the middle of the Aegean Sea, in violation of Greek, European, and international law:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs6KZsZgIYM/?igshid=NzJjY2FjNWJiZg%3D%3D
As with many other asylum seeker cases, the Greek Government denies their accounts of ill-treatment, so their ordeal would otherwise remain largely unknown. However, an activist recorded the incident on video and shared it with the New York Times.
A New York Times investigation confirmed the footage. Reporters also spoke with 11 of the asylum seekers from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia who managed to reach Turkey after being released at sea and are currently in a detention center in Izmir.
A senior official said this month that he had formally requested that the EU launch an investigation into Greece based on the footage in the New York Times report. What have they done to the beautiful Aegean Sea? Not only Greece’s pushback, but also the thousands of migrants drowning on their way to the Greek islands is a disgrace to humanity.
My suggestions for solving the problem at its roots
And of course, it’s not just Greece that pushes back migrants, but many European countries, even many considered developed countries, are doing the same. Now, let’s ask how we can solve this problem at its roots. I share my five suggestions:
1) We need to get to the root of the problem. The root of the problem lies in the countries they come from. If these people are happy where they come from, they won’t be inclined to migrate elsewhere. So, if there are the largest number of Syrians in Turkey, we need to repatriate some of them, or to allow those who remain in Syria to continue living there, we need to sit down with the Syrian government to help resolve their problems and ensure they take care of their own people. Syria’s unsolved problems are not only a problem for Syria, but for all its neighbors. Therefore, we absolutely must contribute to solving the problems in our neighboring country. The same applies to Afghanistan and other countries that send immigrants to us. We can also enlist the support of other countries that don’t want to accept immigrants in solving these problems.
2) We need to talk to every immigrant in Turkey individually. Those who have lived in our country, adapted here, learned Turkish, and are not involved in crime can stay in the country. Everyone has the right to live a decent life. However, the situation of those who bought Turkish citizenship with money, who are of no use to the country, who have failed to adapt, who are involved in or are prone to crime, and who don’t speak Turkish needs to be reconsidered and, if necessary, repatriated through humanitarian means. Incidentally, I’m personally not prejudiced against immigrants. I want those who contribute to our society to continue living with us and be a part of it. There are even immigrants who are a source of joy. Here are some immigrants singing on a minibus in Gümüşhane:
https://twitter.com/TrajikomikNews/status/1665045651309092865
3) Various programs need to be implemented to improve the qualifications of immigrants. Perhaps some of them are geniuses. Special programs can be implemented to identify these individuals. We can also provide them with specialized vocational training in lesser known but needed fields, such as crane operators and underwater teams, and integrate them into the workforce. And, of course, most importantly, we need to educate them about life. We need to provide them with training that includes etiquette and social norms, like a life guide. Incidentally, we need to provide this training to current Turkish citizens as well. So, what I’m saying applies not only to immigrants but to everyone living in the country.
4) We need to take immediate action regarding climate change completely. I’ve written about this topic numerous times in the past. In short, the first things that come to mind are switching the entire country to 100% renewable energy, switching all vehicles to solar-electric or hydrogen vehicles, prioritizing energy efficiency, using fossil fuels as raw materials, providing full support for R&D and the production of green technologies, launching self-sufficient and net-zero buildings, and implementing urban planning based on these fundamental principles. Governments must implement these necessary changes without delay. Millions of people are being forced to migrate not only due to human-induced migration but also due to natural factors like climate change and drought. We need to take the necessary steps today to address these conditions. Solving climate change may require several generations of struggle and taking the necessary action. We can only deliver a more livable world to future generations if we start today.
5) The government can foster cooperation with NGOs working responsibly on the issue of migrants and support them in contributing to this cause. While there are fraudulent NGOs in our country, there are also NGOs that truly do their job properly and operate systematically. Our government can optimize cooperation and coordination with well-functioning NGOs and solve many problems with their support. Ultimately, states may not be able to handle the immigration issue alone. Leveraging the capacity of NGOs and coordinating with them as a single team makes things much easier for states.
Everyone seeks a better life. Some seek it in their country of birth, others in places they migrate to, and still others through constant travel. All people have the right to achieve the life they dream of. While this may seem impossible to some, it’s within their grasp for most. All they need to do is pursue their dreams, work hard, and do what’s necessary to achieve them.
I also salute those who have achieved their dreams through this article. Well done!
I wish everyone a happy and dream-like life.
Tag: ecology
