The collapse of Bashar Al Assad’s regime in Damascus early Sunday (December 8) has been greeted with mass celebrations by Syrians living in Turkey as well as statements by Turkish political figures indicating support for the victorious rebels and transitional government. The prospect of the voluntary return of Turkey’s estimated 3-4 million Syrian refugees to their home country, debated for years, has gained new prominence in the two days since Assad’s demise.
At Monday’s session in the Turkish Parliament, lawmakers debated the 2025 central government budget proposal headed by Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtuluş.
In a notable moment in Monday’s session, ultranationalist leader and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahçeli applauded following remarks by Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party. Bahçeli, long known as a hardliner against the pro-Kurdish movement, shocked many in October by shaking hands with DEM Party representatives and calling for the release of Abdullah Öcalan, the long-imprisoned leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).
Discussions of Syrian refugees take center stage
Monday’s budget discussions were overshadowed by statements from both sides regarding the potential return of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey to their home country.
In comments on this topic, Republican People’s Party (CHP) chairman and main opposition leader Özgür Özel said “Turkey has been faced with a major migrant problem as a result of this conflict. We should not forget the price Turkey has paid throughout this process. Let’s not act as if nothing has happened over the past 13 years.”
“The upcoming process in Syria is of utmost importance and should not be used as political propaganda by anyone…It is time for us to implement a comprehensive return program.”
Özel also warned that Syrian refugees may not return to their home country.and that Turkey may face a new wave of migrants if Syria returns to instability.
Members of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party.(AKP) also discussed the potential return of Syrians on Monday. Parliament.Speaker Kurtuluş echoed Özel’s comments, saying: “One of Turkey’s main priorities.is ensuring the safe and honorable return of the refugees who we have hosted for.many years.”
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also touched on the issue, saying: “One of our basic.priorities is to neutralize the terror threat coming from Syria to our country. If we are able to ensure stability in Syria, I am confident our Syrian brothers and.sisters will be able to return voluntarily and honorably.”
Turkey reopens long-shuttered border gate
On Monday, Turkey also announced the reopening of the Yayladağı.border gate into Syria, located in the Hatay province. The gate had been closed since.2013 due to nearby clashes in Syria’s northwest region.
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In remarks announcing the reopening of the crossing, President Erdoğan.mentioned the move as a way to facilitate the Syrians’ return to their country.and ‘prevent congestion’.
The Syrian refugee issue in Turkey
Since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, Turkey has granted temporary.protection status to millions of Syrians who have settled in the country. Growing public discontent regarding the presence of 3-4 millions Syrians in Turkey in.recent years has increased pressure on politicians to facilitate their return home.
Prior to the second round of Turkey’s May 2023 presidential elections, opposition.candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu promised the forced deportation of Turkey’s Syrian refugees,.estimating their number to be around 10 million.
Erdoğan, long seen as a supporter of Syrian refugees’ right to remain in Turkey, has.spoken out against the notion of forced deportations, calling the plan ‘un-Islamic.’
Nevertheless, domestic pressure has been building on Erdoğan as anti-Syrian sentiments have soared. Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria and expressed goal to build a.‘buffer zone’ have been part of a plan by the AKP government to build a stable.region in Syria where refugees may elect to return voluntarily.
The latest figures from Turkey’s Immigration Ministry place the total number of.Syrians residing in Turkey at 2.9 million, seen by many as an underestimate. This²number represents a decrease of 277,000 from last year’s estimate of 3.2 million.
The Immigration Ministry’s numbers also show a decrease in apprehended irregular.migrants in Turkey at 206,410, following a 2019 peak of 454,662.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
