Blog — RESPOND

Posts in Turkey

The Scope of Reception Policies and Practices in Turkey: Housing

The definition and scope of ‘reception’ in Turkish legislation includes various material conditions including housing, food and clothing provided in kind, or as financial allowances or in vouchers, or a combination of the three, and a daily allowance. Reception also covers matters of education, basic health care and accommodation which ought to be provided during the period of reception. Similar to the EU legislation, the time frame of ‘reception’ is not clearly defined in the Turkish legislation. However, there is an implicit definition: reception starts as soon as the border of a given state has been crossed and an application for international protection has been made. It ends either with the “effective expulsion”, “repatriation”, “forced/assisted return” of unsuccessful applicants or with the acceptance of their request for protection which, in the terminology of RESPOND, makes them subject to ‘integration’.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, TurkeyRESPOND Horizon2020January 30, 2020Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Prof. Ayhan Kaya, Bilgi UniversityComment

Turkish Migration Stories Then and Now: Connecting the German-Turkish and Syrian-Turkish Experience

by Susan Beth Rottmann, Özyeğin University

While researching Syrian migration between Turkey and Europe for RESPOND, it has rapidly become clear to me that the questions of how to host and integrate Syrians, which Turkey is now confronting, must be understood within the broader context of Turkish citizens’ understanding of their European-ness, which I explore in detail in my new book, In Pursuit of Belonging: Forging an Ethical Life in European-Turkish Spaces (2019).

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, TurkeyRESPOND Horizon2020December 9, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Dr. Susan Rottman, Ozyegin UniversityComment

PRESS RELEASE: The “Hotspot” approach is NOT the solution!

by RESPOND Project

The EC-funded international research project “RESPOND: Multilevel Governance of Mass Migration in Europe and Beyond” calls for human-rights responses to the explosive situation at the refugee camp “Moria” and in the Aegean region.

After another fire in which a woman was burnt to death, on Sunday 29 September 2019, the inhuman and volatile situation of the “hot-spot” Moria on the Greek island, Lesbos attracted further worldwide publicity. The woman’s death on Sunday was the third in the last two months.

The need for a Stronger Integration Discourse in Turkey

by Prof. Ayhan Kaya | Bilgi University

Turkey first introduced a Temporary Protection Directive for the refugees in 2014, based on Articles 61 to 95 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, which came into force in April 2014. The directive grants almost the entire social and civil rights that refugees enjoy in western societies. Accordingly, Turkey has provided Syrians with temporary protection, which consists of three elements: an open-door policy for all Syrians; no forced returns to Syria (non-refoulement); and unlimited duration of stay in Turkey.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, TurkeyRESPOND Horizon2020July 8, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Prof. Ayhan Kaya, Bilgi UniversityComment

Launching the Survey among Syrian Refugees | Experience from the workshop at the Swedish Research Institute, ISTANBUL

by Anita Brzozowska & Karolina Sobczak-Szelc | University of Warsaw

If you have ever experienced quantitative research among migrants, then you are already aware of challenges that it is linked to, and that good methodological concept, preparation and launch of the survey is a key to have high-quality data for further analysis.

Spotlight on RESPOND-ers, Poland, Turkey, fieldwork reflectionsRESPOND Horizon2020June 21, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, University of Warsaw, Swedish Research Institute Istanbul, Anita Brzozowska, Karolina Sobczak-Szelc, Fieldwork StoriesComment

Theorizing Hospitality and Integration: Preliminary Insights from Research with Syrian Women in Istanbul

by Dr. Susan Rottman | Özyeğin University

“Eat more. I know you can eat more,” Dana urges with a smile as she serves me a second helping of sautéed green, mint-shaped leaves, soaked in lemon juice and accompanied by tiny pieces of chicken. The leaves are imported dried from Syria and taste like chewy Swiss chard seasoned with lemon-y black tea. It is completely delicious, and I certainly do not mind a second helping. Dana wants me to feel welcome and therefore does not believe my polite protestations of being full. Throughout my research for RESPOND in Istanbul, I was often treated to this exceptional hospitality in Syrian homes.

Turkey, Spotlight on RESPOND-ersRESPOND Horizon2020May 21, 2019Spotlight on RESPONDERS, Fieldwork Stories, Theorizing Hospitality and Integration, Syrian Women in Istanbul, Dr. Susan RottmanComment

Migration Diplomacy: Readmission Agreement and Turkey-EU Refugee Statement

by Prof. Ayhan Kaya | Bilgi University

The Readmission Agreement (16 December 2013) and the Turkey-EU Refugee Statement (18 March 2016) were signed in a period in which many public discussions were taking place in the background ranging from the issues of Islamophobia, populism, ISIS recruits, radicalisation of Islam, or Islamization of radicalism in Europe to the process of Islamization and the ISIS and PKK threats becoming more visible in Turkey.

TurkeyRESPOND Horizon2020May 2, 2019Migration Diplomacy, Turkey-EU Refugee Statement, Prof. Ayhan KayaComment

Keeping Refugees’ Hope in Art

During my fieldwork in Şanlıurfa for the RESPOND Project in the summer of 2018, I consistently heard that Syrians’ arrival to the city has contributed to the revitalization of the artistic and cultural landscape of this ancient city.

Turkey, fieldwork reflections, refugee voices, integration, WP5RESPOND Horizon2020March 4, 2019Comment

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