DOCSLIB.ORG

Refugee-Asylum Seeker Policy of Turkey in the Light

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

REFUGEE-ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY OF TURKEY IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS The Journalists and Writers Foundation Press: 38 ISBN: 978-975-6714-46-1 The views presented are those of authors and do not reflect or represent the views of the editors or the Journalists and Writers Foundation All rights reserved. Copyright JWF. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means. Editors: Engin Akçay and Farkhad Alimukhamedov Project Editor: Ferin Merve Yılmaz Text and Cover Designer: Fokus Ajans Date of publishing: 2013 Limited edition www.gyvkadinplatformu.org | www.gyv.org.tr REFUGEE-ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY OF TURKEY IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS APRIL 25, 2013 - ANKARA WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS Contents Editors’ Note ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Opening Speech .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 SECTION I Turkey’s Refugee Policy from International Perspectives Turkey’s Policy on Refugee-Asylum Seekers: Current Practices ...................................................... 13 EsEn Altuğ The UN Refugee Agency’s Focused Studies on Turkey and the Latest Update .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 CAROL BATCHELOR Trends in Migration Management: The Case of Turkey ........................................................................................................ 23 MEERA SETHI Turkey’s Refugee Policy and Practices from the Civil Society Perspective ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 OK TAY DURUKAN SECTION II Turkey’s Position and its Practices Pertaining to Syrians in Turkey Fellow’s Hand Reaches to the Neighbor: Syria ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 39 TURAN ERKOÇ Syrian Crisis from the European Union Perspective ............................................................................................................................. 45 FRANÇOIS NAUCODIE Types of International Protection and the Legal Status of the Syrians in Turkey ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Prof. nurAy EKŞİ, PhD The Aid Activities of Kimse Yok Mu Association with Regards to Syrian Refugees .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71 CElAl türKoğlu SECTION III The New Legislation: Law on Foreigners and International Protection The Role of Civil Society in the Field of Asylum, Situation in the Satellite Cities and Syrian Refugees in Turkey ........................................................ 81 TANER KILIÇ The Country Embracing the Refugees the Most: Turkey ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 93 NEVVAL SEVINDI Law on Foreigners and International Protection .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101 MEHMET METINER Final Declaration ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 111 Speakers .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 113 Images ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 117 Editors’ Note The history of migration is parallel to the history of mankind... The process of migration, regardless of its causes, can be resumed as a ‘search for something better’. Turkey being at the crossroads of civilizations, its geographical location is crucial for migration routes and targets. Today, migration is a global phenomenon and its axis is moving eastwards from the West. The issue of migration in the Turkish context during the past times was mainly understood as migration to Europe. Yet, as it is often stressed today, Turkey is not only a transit, but also a target country for migrants. Throughout several years Tur- key accepted refugees coming from East and West with extreme hospitality. Even though Turkish nuances of the term refugee/asylum-seeker (sığınmacı and mülteci) deriving from the political stance of the country have been criticized by the west- ern sources, the country’s sui generis location has also complicated handling the issue. Since the acceleration of forced migration movements due to the so-called Arab Awakening, undoubtedly a complex situation has been brought up for the country’s decision-makers. The workshop entitled “Refugee-Asylum Seeker Policy of Turkey in the Light of Recent Developments” organized by The Women Plat- form of the Journalists and Writers Foundation on the 25th April 2013 in Ankara has a particular importance also due to its timing. This event was organized just a short time after the adoption of the Law on Foreigners and International Protec- tion, which was a fruitful basis for a better evaluation of some aspects of the law related to its application. Another asset of the workshop was the ability to rally all the interested bodies incuding international organizations, academicians, govern- ment agencies, and civil society organizations. 7 REFUGEE-ASYLUM SEEKER POLICY OF TURKEY IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS The outcomes of the workshop, where our recommendations on the structuring of the event and selection of the topics were taken into account, are to be found in the present publication. The book, in which we took part as editors, is published in English and Turkish. Its objectives would be reached if public awareness both in Turkey and on international platforms could be attained. Stressing our gratitude to all panelists we note that it has been unfeasible to give an academic design to the transcribed texts. From this stance, only the speakers’ papers have been selected; the moderators’ and discussants’ presentations are therefore omissed. However, the Final Declaration, drawn up by every participant to the workshop reflects all their contributions. Within this framework, along with the speakers of the workshop we would like to express our gratitude to the moderators: Associate Professor Dr. Mah- mut Akpınar, Professor Dr. Cengiz Başak, Professor Dr. Ahmet Nuri Yurdusev; and discussants: Yahya Munis, Assistant Professor Dr. Zeynep Şahin Mencütek. Wishing a better world for humanity, Engin Akçay Farkhad Alimukhamedov 8 Opening Speech Good morning to you all. I welcome you to the workshop on the “Refugee-Asy- lum Seeker Policy of Turkey in the Light of Recent Developments” organized by the Women’s Platform of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF). Since the day it was established, JWF has organized local, regional and interna- tional events and carried out projects for the sake of building the culture of coexis- tence. We started preparing for this workshop one year ago. What really distinguish- es it is the fact that it brings together not only the officials (of ) bureaucracy but al- so academicians, civil society organizations and international agencies involved in services of refugees and asylum seekers. One main reason for this
Recommended publications
  • Turkey's Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey

    Turkey's Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey

    IN TURKEY Turkey’s Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey IN TURKEY The Atlantic Council in Turkey aims to promote dialogue and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region through research, programming and high-level discussion forums to address critical issues around energy, economics, migration, and security. UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. Turkey’s Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey Bastien Revel ISBN-13: 978-1-61977-108-6 Cover: Syrian women at a food entrepreneurship training, Kilis. Photo Credit: Mustafa Bilge Satkın, @UNDP Turkey This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The au- thors are solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations generally, or United Nations Member States. July 2020 ATLANTIC COUNCIL I Turkey’s Refugee Resilience: Expanding and Improving Solutions for the Economic Inclusion of Syrians in Turkey TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 1 Foreword 2 Introduction 3 I. Syrians’ Livelihoods in Turkey 5 A. Turkey opened labor market to refugees 5 1.
  • Assessing the Development- Displacement Nexus in Turkey

    Assessing the Development- Displacement Nexus in Turkey

    Assessing the Development- Displacement Nexus in Turkey Working Paper Fulya Memişoğlu November 2018 Assessing the Development- Displacement Nexus in Turkey Working Paper Acknowledgements This report is an output of the project Study on Refugee Protection and Development: Assessing the Development-Displacement Nexus in Regional Protection Policies, funded by the OPEC Fund for Inter- national Development (OFID) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The author and ICMPD gratefully acknowledge OFID’s support. While no fieldwork was conducted for this report, the author thanks the Turkey Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Development, ICMPD Tur- key and the Refugee Studies Centre of Oxford University for their valuable inputs to previous research, which contributed to the author’s work. The author also thanks Maegan Hendow for her valuable feedback on this report. International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Gonzagagasse 1 A-1010 Vienna www.icmpd.com International Centre for Migration Policy Development Vienna, Austria All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission of the copyright owners. The content of this study does not reflect the official opinion of OFID or ICMPD. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the study lies entirely with the author. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS \ 3 Contents Acknowledgements 3 Acronyms 6 1. Introduction 7 1.1 The Syrian crisis and Turkey 7 2. Refugee populations in Turkey 9 2.1 Country overview 9 2.2 Evolution and dynamics of the Syrian influx in Turkey 11 2.3 Characteristics of the Syrian refugee population 15 2.4 Legal status issues 17 2.5 Other relevant refugee flows 19 3.
  • Syrians in Turkey – the Economics of Integration

    Syrians in Turkey – the Economics of Integration

    EXPERTBRIEF REGIONAL POLITICS September 2016 Syrians in Turkey – The Economics of Integration Timur Kaymaz and Omar Kadkoy Abstract: Worldwide, as of 2016, IN HIS SPEECH TO CEOS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT 65 million people have been companies just two weeks after the thwarted coup displaced from their homes, attempt of July 15, one of President Erdoğan’s very few the highest level ever recorded. policy oriented points concerned the country’s Syrian Moreover, Turkey is now home population. “If need be,” remarked Erdoğan, “We will give to the largest refugee population citizenship to the Syrians. Our ministries are carrying out in the world. As of August 2016, the necessary research. Rather than lodging them in tents, the number of registered Syrian in primitive conditions, we will give them citizenship. refugees (officially referred to There are lawyers, doctors, engineers, and nurses among as Syrians under Temporary them. Let us include these people in our society, so they Protection by the relevant can sustain themselves.”1 Turkish regulation, 2014/6883) is recorded as 2,724,937. To those familiar with Turkish politics, these remarks stood out from the rest of Erdoğan’s speech. The The integration of Syrians into president had already raised the citizenship issue earlier the Turkish economy has so far that month, and was met with discomfort from all parts been through human interaction of the political spectrum in Turkey. Indeed, according to rather than policy design. A a nationwide poll conducted in March 2016, 82.9 percent longterm, sustainable framework of the Turkish population opposed naturalizing Syrians.2 of integration for Syrian workers The failed coup attempt of July 15 and the political and entrepreneurs is still environment in its wake had provided an opportunity to missing as we near the fifth quietly bury the citizenship proposal, but the president anniversary of the refugee influx.
  • Barometer THEMES

    Barometer THEMES

    KONDA Barometer THEMES Perception on Syrian Asylum-Seekers February 2016 KONDA FEBRUARY 16’ PERCEPTION ON SYRIAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS 2 CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 5 2. PERCEPTION ON SYRIAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS ................................................................ 7 2.1. The Latest Status of Syrian Migrants in Turkey and Areas of Study .............................. 7 2.2. Information on Asylum-Seekers in Turkey ....................................................................... 9 2.3. Theoretical Framework: Ghost Citizens ........................................................................ 11 2.4. Outlook on Foreigners: Selecting Migrants................................................................... 14 2.4.1. Differentiation Outlook on Foreigners ................................................................... 16 2.4.2. Changing Perception of Migrants .......................................................................... 17 2.4.3. Economic Uncertainty and Aversion to Foreigners .............................................. 18 2.4.4. Comparison of the Opinion on Foreigners - Turkey vs. Europe ........................... 19 2.5. Social Acceptance / Status of Asylum Seekers ........................................................... 22 2.6. Areas of Contact ............................................................................................................. 24 2.7. Influence of Asylum-seekers on Economics and
  • From Syria to Turkey: Being a Woman

    From Syria to Turkey: Being a Woman

    FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY: BEING A WOMAN Prof. Dr. Özlem CANKURTARAN Research Assistant Hande ALBAYRAK Editors: Prof. Dr. Şevkat BAHAR ÖZVARIŞ Social Psychologist Türküler ERDOST Funded by European Union Civil Protection United Nations Population Fund and Humanitarian Aid Funded by European Union Civil Protection United Nations Population Fund and Humanitarian Aid FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY: BEING A WOMAN Prof. Dr. Özlem CANKURTARAN Research Assistant Hande ALBAYRAK Editors: Prof. Dr. Şevkat BAHAR ÖZVARIŞ Social Psychologist Türküler ERDOST FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY: Funded by European Union Civil Protection United Nations Population Fund and Humanitarian Aid BEING A WOMAN Merdiven Publishing: 51 First Edition: April 2019 ISBN 978-975-8991-40-2 Press Elma Teknik Basım Matbaacılık Ltd. Şti. İvedik OSB Matbacılar Sitesi 1516/1 Sok. No: 35 Yenimahalle/Ankara www.elmateknikbasim.com Merdiven Publishing Şehit Bilgin Sokak No: 6/1 Maltepe - Ankara Tel: 0312 232 30 88 Faks: 0312 232 31 02 www.merdivenreklam.com www.merdivenyayin.com [email protected] > 2 FROM SYRIA TO TURKEY: BEING A WOMAN Prof. Dr. Özlem CANKURTARAN Research Assistant Hande ALBAYRAK Hacettepe University, Department of Social Work “Strengthening Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Sexual and Gender- Based Violence Response Services for Syrian and Other Refugees through Women and Girl Safe Spaces (WGSS)/Women’s Health Counseling Units Project” This publication has been prepared and printed by Hacettepe University Research and Implementation Center on Women’s Issues (HUWRIC/HÜKSAM) in the scope of the “Strengthening Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Services for Syrian and Other Refugees through Women and Girl Safe Spaces (WGSS)/Women’s Health Counseling Units Project”.
  • 'Our Syrian Brothers': Refugees and Ethnicity In

    'Our Syrian Brothers': Refugees and Ethnicity In

    ‘OUR SYRIAN BROTHERS’: REFUGEES AND ETHNICITY IN TURKISH POLITICAL RHETORIC By [Copyright 2016] Rachel Wigen-Toccalino Submitted to the graduate degree program in Global and International Studies and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Michael Wuthrich ________________________________ Dr. Nazlı Avdan ________________________________ Dr. Mehrangiz Najafizadeh Date Defended: June 20, 2016 !ii The Thesis Committee for Rachel Wigen-Toccalino certifies that this is the approved version of the following thesis: ‘OUR SYRIAN BROTHERS’: REFUGEES AND ETHNICITY IN TURKISH POLITICAL RHETORIC ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Michael Wuthrich Date approved: June 20, 2016 !iii Abstract In the early years of the Turkish state, national unity along the lines of ethnic identity became crucial and any opposition to unity sparked animosity between the Turkish government and its ethnic minorities leading to policies of forced migration and assimilation. Over the past 20 years, there has been a slow but steady shift towards acceptance of alternative identities in Turkey. However, intolerance and violence is again on the rise and the influx of millions of Syrian refugees into Turkey, due to the social and economic pressures that refugees brings, may be influencing this rise. Thus, I ask, has the Syrian refugee crisis reinvigorated historical tensions between the Turkish government and its minority populations? In order to trace the shifts in political conversations towards Turkish minorities, I analyzed political speeches made by leaders of the top four Turkish parties during the five election cycles that have taken place since 2011, the start of the Syrian Civil War.
  • Report on the Impact of the State of Emergency on Human Rights in Turkey, Including an Update on the South-East

    Report on the Impact of the State of Emergency on Human Rights in Turkey, Including an Update on the South-East

    Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Report on the impact of the state of emergency on human rights in Turkey, including an update on the South-East January – December 2017 March 2018 Contents I. Executive summary II. Introduction A. Background and scope of the report B. Methodology C. Protection concerns for individuals cooperating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights D. Applicable legal framework III. Human rights in the context of the state of emergency A. Effects of the Constitutional amendments on the separation of powers B. Effects of presidential decrees enacted during the state of emergency 1. Subject matter and scope of presidential decrees 2. Interference with the independence of the judiciary 3. Arbitrary dismissals of civil servants and private sector employees 4. Torture and ill-treatment 5. Violations of the rights to freedoms of expression and movement C. Commission of Inquiry for State of Emergency Practices IV. Update on the situation in South-East Turkey V. Conclusions and recommendations Page 1 of 28 I. Executive summary 1. The present report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provides an overview of key human rights concerns in Turkey in the period between January and December 2017, with a focus on the consequences of the state of emergency on the enjoyment of human rights. The findings of OHCHR point to a constantly deteriorating human rights situation, exacerbated by the erosion of the rule of law. 2. OHCHR recognizes the complex situation that Turkey has been facing by addressing the 15 July 2016 attempted coup and dealing with a number of terrorist attacks.
  • The Role of Islam in the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Is Discussed in the Next Section

    The Role of Islam in the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Is Discussed in the Next Section

    MUSLIM IDENTITY, ‘NEO-ISLAM’ AND THE 1992-95 WAR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA S. OSMANOVIC Ph.D. 2015 ABSTRACT Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, Yugoslavia was entangled in a fratricidal break-up. In none of the other former Yugoslav republics did the conflict turn as violent as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which suffered genocide, the greatest number of victims and the highest percentage of infrastructural destruction. Although its three ethnic communities – Muslims, Serbs and Croats – were previously well integrated, the break-up of Yugoslavia exposed Bosnia’s unique Islamic component, which both Serbs and Croats perceived to be the major impediment to the continuation of a pluralistic society. Islam, however, only turned into a divisive and decisive factor in the conflict when combined with ethnic nationalism. Previous research into the causes of the 1992-95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the break-up of Yugoslavia has identified Bosnia’s long Islamic heritage and large Muslim population on the doorstep of Europe as specific features influencing both its rationale and resolution. Yet there has been no analysis of the role and impact of ‘neo-Islam’ (a term I explained below) in the conflict – an omission this thesis seeks to redress. The thesis uses historical analysis to demonstrate that Bosnia and Herzegovina was frequently subject to international intervention during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it explores whether the unique Islamic component was the reason behind this phenomenon, and seeks to comprehend why Bosnia and Herzegovina has always appeared to pose a problem for the international community, from the papal persecutions of the medieval Bogumils through to the present day.
  • The Turks and the Balkans in Modernist Travelogue

    The Turks and the Balkans in Modernist Travelogue

    ADAM AKADEMİ, 2012/2: 39-50 The Turks and The Balkans in Modernist Travelogue: English Representations of The Turks in “hidden Europe” Sanja Lazarević- Aleksandra Đurić-Milovanović Institute for Balkan Studies-SASA ABSTRACT Although there is a long tradition of writing on the Balkans as “hidden Europe” and Turks, pri- marily as conquerors of this peninsula, a discursive relation between the Turks and the Balkans is insufficiently researched. Contemporary studies reveal that perception of the Turks in 18th and 19th century oscillated between representations on brutality and hedonism. The interwar peri- od brings new images and final reversal, transformation and discursive rupture in English and American representations of the “inner Other”. In the year 1923 Turkish Republic accepted Eu- ropean trends and brought new patterns of culture. This transformation influenced the image of Turks and the Balkans as well. Even though numerous stereotypes on Turks were reproduced on the Balkans, particularly in the 19th century when inhabitants of the Balkans were orienta- lized and became barriers of distinct features similar to: “brutality”, “warlike”, “laziness”, “self- contradictory”. Until the Balkan Wars, the representation of Turks in English travelogues became twofold. Turks are recognized as “civilized” oppose to Christian inhabitants of the Balkans and as victims of modernity. The aim is to examine the process of change and transformation the images of “the Turk” in English and American travelogues between two world wars and its influence on the perception of the Balkans in the same time. Key Words: Turk; the Balkans; Travelogue; Britain; Ottomans. Modernist Seyahatnamelerde Balkanlar ve Türkler: “derin Avrupa” da İngilizlerin Türkleri Sunumu ÖZ “Derin Avrupa” olarak Balkanlar ve bu yarımadanın fatihleri Türklerle ilgili uzun bir yazım geleneği olmasına rağmen, Türkler ile Balkanlar arasındaki ilişkiler yeterince araştırılmış değildir.
  • Transnational Immigrant Communities and Ethnic Solidarity: the Case of Samsun and Syrian Circassians

    Transnational Immigrant Communities and Ethnic Solidarity: the Case of Samsun and Syrian Circassians

    Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, http://busbed.bingol.edu.tr, Yıl: 8 • Cilt: 8 • Sayı: 16 • Güz/Autumn 2018 TRANSNATIONAL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND ETHNIC SOLIDARITY: THE CASE OF SAMSUN AND SYRIAN CIRCASSIANS Hüdayi SAYIN1, Emir Fatih AKBULAT2 Geliş: 15.02.2018 / Kabul: 07.09.2018 DOI: 10.29029/busbed.395566 Abstract This study will focus on the ethnic ties of the Circassian communities living in Turkey, as well as the problems faced by the Circassian communities in the mass migration movements caused by the Syrian crisis. The Syrian Circassians, who during the civil war in Syria took refuge in Turkey, tried to solve their housing and other problems that arose during the Great Circassian migration, with the help of ethnic predecessors who had settled in Turkey. This process contributed to the development of ethnic solidarity and social cohesion. During the Great Circassian migration, the Circassians who came to Turkey after the Syrian crisis of 2011 met with the Circassians, who by that time were already living in Turkey. This meeting showed results that should be examined from the point of view of the formation of migration links and solidarity of ethnic identity. This study will analyse the results 1 Dr. Öğr. Üyesi. İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl Üniversitesi, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü, [email protected], ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8994-4088. (Assist. Prof. Dr. Istanbul Yeni Yüzyil University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations, [email protected]). 2 Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü, [email protected], ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9069-5613.
  • Pomaks As a Balkan Community and Evidence of Turkishness in Their Perceptions of Identity*

    Pomaks As a Balkan Community and Evidence of Turkishness in Their Perceptions of Identity*

    Balkan Araştırma Enstitüsü Dergisi Cilt/Volume 2, Sayı/Number 1 Temmuz/July 2013, 35-54. POMAKS AS A BALKAN COMMUNITY AND EVIDENCE OF TURKISHNESS IN THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF IDENTITY* Ahmet GÜNŞEN** ABSTRACT Many nations have been affected by this negative process, but not as much as Pomaks... Because in the geography of the Balkans, there is not any community other than Pomaks that grows by maturing in fierce conditions for the sake of protecting their identity. Pomaks, who were accepted as Islamised Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Serbian etc. in their countries without looking at how they perceived themselves and were under severe pressure, cruelty and policies of assimilation, are unfortunately still grappling over these primitive practices today. This community, called as Pomak, Torbesh, Gorani etc. in the countries where they live, is Muslim in essence and it considers itself Turkish. Therefore, it is a humanistic and scientific necessity to search for elements of Turkishness in the cultural codes and history of this community which has never given up and been deterred from its Muslim‐ Turkish identity by resisting all kinds of pressure, torment and policies towards their identity in a period of centuries and to put them forward with scientific criteria.Since perception is about the cultural identity, consciousness of relativity and accumulation of an individual or a community above all things, it is necessary to go over Pomak communities from these aspects. If the elements of Turkishness in the Pomaks’ perception of identity can be put forward with concrete examples, it can be easily understood why they persistently put emphasis on “Turkishness”.
  • The Balkan War and Its Implications for Islamic Socio-Political Life in Southeast Europe (1876-1914 AD)

    The Balkan War and Its Implications for Islamic Socio-Political Life in Southeast Europe (1876-1914 AD)

    International Journal of Science and Society, Volume 2, Issue 4, 2020 The Balkan War and Its Implications for Islamic Socio-Political Life in Southeast Europe (1876-1914 AD) Kemal Pasha Centre of Mustafa Kemal Ankara, Turkey Email: [email protected] Abstract This research describes the historical series of the occurrence of the Balkan Wars and the implications thereof for Muslim life there. This study took three main problems, namely (1) the causes of the Balkan Wars, (2) the chronology of the Balkan wars, and (3) What are the implications of the Balkan wars on the socio-political life of Islam in Southeast Europe. The research method used in this thesis is the historical research method. 4 stages, namely (1) Heuristics, (2) Source/Verification Criticism, (3) Interpretation and (4) Historiography. There are two approaches used in this study, namely the political and sociological approaches. While the theory I use in this research is theory. Conflict and social change theory. The results of the research that the authors obtained are: chronologically, the Balkan war was preceded by the problem of Macedonia which in the end was used as an excuse to legitimize the war. Basically, the main cause of this Balkan war was due to the ambition and personal grudge between the respective rulers of the Balkan countries and the Ottoman Empire. It was also driven by the decline of the sultanate, Russian domination, the Turkish-Italian war (1911-1912), the idea of nationalism, propaganda, the formation of the Balkan alliance and the failure of diplomacy. The outbreak of the Balkan war not only resulted in geo-political changes but also was a humanitarian catastrophe for Muslims in the Balkans who at that time had to accept the fact that their situation was no longer the same as when it was led by Muslims because authority had shifted to non-Muslims.