Iraqis in Turkey
Encyclopedia
Iraqis in Turkey includes Turkish citizens of Iraqi origin, Iraqi-born citizens and Iraqi refugees.
and the first Gulf war
, with around 50,000 to 460,000 Iraqis entering the country.
However, Turkey took a different approach following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, when the government took strong measures in ensuring there be no mass influx of Iraqis for the third time. Thus, despite an approximate of two million Iraqis fleeing to neighbouring Syria
and Jordan
, only 10,000 had arrived in Turkey.
(August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991) were curtailed by raids of the Iraqi military. While Iran allowed 1.3 million Kurds into its borders, Turkey attempted to block the entry of more than 450,000 Kurds who were headed its way in an attempt to flee violence, leaving them trapped in the Iraqi-Turkish mountain range. In an attempt to avoid a humanitarian crisis, a US-led force intervened in northern Iraq, establishing a security zone and a no-fly zone to protect the Kurds. Backed by UN Security Council resolution 688, operation Provide Comfort represented the first time the military was involved in humanitarian emergencies. The 450,000 Kurds were brought down from the Iraqi-Turkish mountain range into flat areas on the Iraqi side of the border near Zakho and Donuk, where the US Army set up refugee camps, handing them to be managed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Kurdish refugees were first protected by coalition military, and once they left, by UN guards. Historically, this was the only time that Iraqi refugees were in camps.
The Kurdish issue seriously tested UNHCR’s protection mandate, as while it is obliged to protect and assist people who are outside of their own countries, the refugees camps were located inside Iraq. At the same time, UNHCR could not persuade Turkey to accept the Kurds into its area as states are obligated not to return people to situations where they might be persecuted, but they could not be forced to provide them asylum. UNHCR promoted voluntary repatriation, and by June 1991 all Kurds who stayed at the camps near Iraqi-Turkish border had returned to their towns in northern Iraq.
and opt to seek refuge in Turkey for it is relatively easy to enter and the application for asylum are processed faster than in both Syria and Jordan. The charity Caritas
has urged the assistance of both Christian and Muslim Iraqis whom endure inhumane treatment in Turkey.
The Iraqi Chaldean community in Turkey constitute one of the largest Catholic communities in Istanbul, most of whom are women.
In November 2010, there were 5,235 Iraqis in Turkey registered by UNHCR. Of those, 59.7% were male, and 63.9% were between the ages of 18-59. Additionally, 49.3% originated in Baghdad, and while 47.3% arrived to Turkey in 2010, 7.8% arrived prior to 2006. While 36.4% are Arab, 28.5% are Chaldean, and 6.2% are Kurd. Finally, 41.5% of registered Iraqis in Turkey are Christian, 34.2% are Sunni, and 10.9% are Shia.
In January 2011, there were 6,600 registered Iraqi refugees and 1,700 registered Iraqi asylum seekers in Turkey.
, Turkey has restricted the possibility for Iraqis, like all non-Europeans, to be issued refugee status. Under customary Turkish law, the rights of Iraqi refugees are no different to those of a 1951 UN Convention refugee, expect that their stay is not permanent and they ought to be resettled in a third country. The UNHCR aids Turkey in resettling Iraqis in third countries through deciding the cases of ones that have applied for refugee status in Turkey by applying procedural and substantive international refugee law.
History
Turkey experienced a large influx of Iraqis between the years of 1988 and 1991 due to both the Iran-Iraq warIran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
and the first Gulf war
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, with around 50,000 to 460,000 Iraqis entering the country.
However, Turkey took a different approach following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, when the government took strong measures in ensuring there be no mass influx of Iraqis for the third time. Thus, despite an approximate of two million Iraqis fleeing to neighbouring Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, only 10,000 had arrived in Turkey.
Gulf War
Large movements of Kurdish refugees took place after revolts that broke out in Kurdish areas in northern Iraq during the Gulf WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
(August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991) were curtailed by raids of the Iraqi military. While Iran allowed 1.3 million Kurds into its borders, Turkey attempted to block the entry of more than 450,000 Kurds who were headed its way in an attempt to flee violence, leaving them trapped in the Iraqi-Turkish mountain range. In an attempt to avoid a humanitarian crisis, a US-led force intervened in northern Iraq, establishing a security zone and a no-fly zone to protect the Kurds. Backed by UN Security Council resolution 688, operation Provide Comfort represented the first time the military was involved in humanitarian emergencies. The 450,000 Kurds were brought down from the Iraqi-Turkish mountain range into flat areas on the Iraqi side of the border near Zakho and Donuk, where the US Army set up refugee camps, handing them to be managed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Kurdish refugees were first protected by coalition military, and once they left, by UN guards. Historically, this was the only time that Iraqi refugees were in camps.
The Kurdish issue seriously tested UNHCR’s protection mandate, as while it is obliged to protect and assist people who are outside of their own countries, the refugees camps were located inside Iraq. At the same time, UNHCR could not persuade Turkey to accept the Kurds into its area as states are obligated not to return people to situations where they might be persecuted, but they could not be forced to provide them asylum. UNHCR promoted voluntary repatriation, and by June 1991 all Kurds who stayed at the camps near Iraqi-Turkish border had returned to their towns in northern Iraq.
2003 Iraq Invasion
In an attempt to prevent large movements of Iraqi refugees into its country resulting from the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the Turkish government tightened its security at its border with Iraq. As a result of Turkey’s efforts, only 6,000-10,000 Iraqi refugees made it to Turkey, of whom 5,400 were registered in 2008. In 2007, UNHCR had 8 national staff in Turkey.Profiles and locations
Iraqis are predominantly situated in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and opt to seek refuge in Turkey for it is relatively easy to enter and the application for asylum are processed faster than in both Syria and Jordan. The charity Caritas
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
has urged the assistance of both Christian and Muslim Iraqis whom endure inhumane treatment in Turkey.
The Iraqi Chaldean community in Turkey constitute one of the largest Catholic communities in Istanbul, most of whom are women.
In November 2010, there were 5,235 Iraqis in Turkey registered by UNHCR. Of those, 59.7% were male, and 63.9% were between the ages of 18-59. Additionally, 49.3% originated in Baghdad, and while 47.3% arrived to Turkey in 2010, 7.8% arrived prior to 2006. While 36.4% are Arab, 28.5% are Chaldean, and 6.2% are Kurd. Finally, 41.5% of registered Iraqis in Turkey are Christian, 34.2% are Sunni, and 10.9% are Shia.
In January 2011, there were 6,600 registered Iraqi refugees and 1,700 registered Iraqi asylum seekers in Turkey.
Legality
Despite Turkey being Iraq's only neighbour to be a party to the The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesConvention Relating to the Status of Refugees
The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is an international convention that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not...
, Turkey has restricted the possibility for Iraqis, like all non-Europeans, to be issued refugee status. Under customary Turkish law, the rights of Iraqi refugees are no different to those of a 1951 UN Convention refugee, expect that their stay is not permanent and they ought to be resettled in a third country. The UNHCR aids Turkey in resettling Iraqis in third countries through deciding the cases of ones that have applied for refugee status in Turkey by applying procedural and substantive international refugee law.
Return
UNHCR views repatriation (return migration) as the best long-term solution for refugees, but it is questionable whether Iraq has the capacity to absorb a large number of returning refugees at this point in time. Even though there are relatively few Iraqi refugees in Turkey, there are close to five million displaced Iraqis – internally and externally. Prior to returning to their home countries, basic conditions are preferred to be present to ensure a successful absorption of refugees. These include law and order, basic safety, property rights, and access to essential services such as healthcare, education, water, and electricity. When large numbers of refugees are involved, state institutions should be strong and capable to adequately handle and absorb the return of such a massive scale. Presently, Iraq has not met all of the above conditions.See also
- Iraq-Turkey relations
- Iraqi TurkmenIraqi TurkmenThe Iraqi Turkmen are an ethnic group who mainly reside in northern Iraq. Estimates of their numbers vary dramatically, in accordance with Iraq's assimilation policies no realistic and independent census results have been revealed regarding the Iraqi Turkmen population...
- Iraqi refugees
- Iraqis in SyriaIraqis in SyriaIraqis in Syria are Syrian citizens of Iraqi origin or, more commonly today, Iraqis who are seeking refuge or better opportunities inside Syria...
- Iraqis in JordanIraqis in JordanIraqis in Jordan are estimated to number between 200.000 and comprise approximately 4-5 per cent of the total population. Estimating the size of an immigrant population is difficult, as some Iraqis may have entered without a legal permit, or overstayed their permit...
- Iraqis in LebanonIraqis in LebanonIraqis in Lebanon are people of Iraqi origin residing in Lebanon, which includes Lebanese citizens of Iraqi ancestry or more recently Iraqis seeking refuge in Lebanon, most as a direct result of the instability and violence that followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq...
- United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUnited Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesThe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...