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Country Information and Guidance Turkey: Kurdish Ethnicity

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Country Information and Guidance Turkey: Kurdish Ethnicity Country Information and Guidance Turkey: Kurdish ethnicity Version 1.0 February 2016 Preface This document provides country of origin information (COI) and guidance to Home Office decision makers on handling particular types of protection and human rights claims. This includes whether claims are likely to justify the granting of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave and whether – in the event of a claim being refused – it is likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Decision makers must consider claims on an individual basis, taking into account the case specific facts and all relevant evidence, including: the guidance contained with this document; the available COI; any applicable caselaw; and the Home Office casework guidance in relation to relevant policies. Country Information The COI within this document has been compiled from a wide range of external information sources (usually) published in English. Consideration has been given to the relevance, reliability, accuracy, objectivity, currency, transparency and traceability of the information and wherever possible attempts have been made to corroborate the information used across independent sources, to ensure accuracy. All sources cited have been referenced in footnotes. It has been researched and presented with reference to the Common EU [European Union] Guidelines for Processing Country of Origin Information (COI), dated April 2008, and the European Asylum Support Office’s research guidelines, Country of Origin Information report methodology, dated July 2012. Feedback Our goal is to continuously improve the guidance and information we provide. Therefore, if you would like to comment on this document, please e-mail us. Independent Advisory Group on Country Information The Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) was set up in March 2009 by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to make recommendations to him about the content of the Home Office‘s COI material. The IAGCI welcomes feedback on the Home Office‘s COI material. It is not the function of the IAGCI to endorse any Home Office material, procedures or policy. IAGCI may be contacted at: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, 5th Floor, Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PN. Email: [email protected] Information about the IAGCI‘s work and a list of the COI documents which have been reviewed by the IAGCI can be found on the Independent Chief Inspector‘s website at http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/country-information-reviews/ Page 2 of 21 Contents Preface ...................................................................................................................... 2 Contents .................................................................................................................... 3 Guidance ................................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Basis of Claim .......................................................................................... 4 2. Consideration of Issues ................................................................................... 4 2.1 Is the person’s account a credible one? ....Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2 Are Kurds at risk of persecution or serious harm in Turkey? .................... 4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Are those at risk able to seek effective protection? .................................. 5 2.4 Are those at risk able to internally relocate? ............................................. 6 2.5 If refused, is the claim likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’? Error! Bookmark not defined. 3. Policy summary ............................................................................................... 6 Country Information ................................................................................................. 7 4. Background ..................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Demography ............................................................................................. 7 4.2 Legal and constitutional framework .......................................................... 7 4.3 History ...................................................................................................... 7 5. Treatment of Kurds ........................................................................................ 11 5.1 Language ............................................................................................... 11 5.2 Political participation ............................................................................... 14 Back to Contents .................................................................................................. 15 5.3 Societal violence and hate speech ......................................................... 15 5.4 Anti-discrimination legislation ................................................................. 16 5.5 Newroz celebrations ............................................................................... 18 Back to Contents .................................................................................................. 18 5.6 Police treatment of Kurds and anti-terrorism laws .................................. 18 Version Control and Contacts ............................................................................... 21 Page 3 of 21 Guidance Updated: 12 February 2016 1. Introduction 1.1 Basis of Claim 1.1.1 Fear of persecution or serious harm by state or non state actors due to the person’s Kurdish ethnicity. 1.1.2 For guidance on claims made on the basis of membership or association with the Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê or Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) see separate country information and guidance on Turkey: Membership or association with the PKK . Back to Contents 2. Consideration of Issues 2.1 Credibility 2.1.1 For information on assessing credibility, see sections 4 and 5 of the Asylum Instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status. 2.1.2 Decision makers must also check if there has been a previous application for a UK visa or another form of leave. Asylum applications matched to visas should be investigated prior to the asylum interview (see the Asylum Instruction on Visa Matches, Asylum Claims from UK Visa Applicants). 2.1.3 Decision makers should also consider the need to conduct language analysis testing (see the Asylum Instruction on Language Analysis). Back to Contents 2.2 Assessment of risk 2.2.1 Kurds are estimated to be the largest ethnic minority group in Turkey representing 17% of the total population (see Demography). A significant proportion of Kurdish people have integrated fully into Turkish society (see History). Back to Contents Treatment by the state 2.2.2 Kurds have historically experienced discrimination in Turkey. The main way in which the Turkish state has discriminated against Kurds has been in use of language and education. Until recently, the use of minority languages was forbidden by law but these restrictions have now been eased so as to allow Kurdish and other minority languages to be used in education in private schools - though not yet in state schools - in broadcasting and in election campaigning (see Kurdish Language). The Kurdish new year holiday of Newroz is generally freely and peacefully celebrated with rallies in cities nationwide (see Newroz celebrations). Page 4 of 21 2.2.3 There have been a small number of reports of ill-treatment by the authorities which primarily concern the police using excessive force in responding to demonstrations involving Kurds, but such heavy-handedness is not confined to Kurds alone. Kurdish civil society organizations and political parties continued to experience problems exercising the freedoms of assembly and association (see Police). Back to Contents Treatment by non-state actors 2.2.4 Hate rhetoric by some of the Turkish media has been reported, as have incidents of societal violence. The numbers of such incidents are however relatively small compared to the size of the Kurdish population in Turkey (see Societal violence). Back to Contents Conclusion 2.2.5 Even when taken cumulatively the discrimination faced by Kurds does not in general amount to them being subject to action on the part either of the populace or the authorities which would amount to persecution within the terms of the Refugee Convention or otherwise inhuman or degrading treatment. Each case must be assessed on its own merits, taking full account of the particular circumstances and profile of the person and any past persecution. 2.2.6 For guidance on assessing risk, see section 6 of the Asylum Instruction on Assessing Credibility and Refugee Status. Back to Contents 2.3 Protection 2.3.1 The Turkish Penal Code was amended in March 2014 to include measures to prevent crimes based on ‘hatred and discrimination’ and the penalty for hate offences was also increased. However, the amendment did not include hate offences based on ethnic origin, amongst other categories (see Anti- discrimination legislation). 2.3.2 Avenues of complaint exist for persons to lodge complaints against police officers they accuse of ill-treatment (see country information
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