The Syrian Coalition’s political committee held consultations with a number of experts on the Turkish affairs and Syrian rights activists to discuss the situation of the Syrian refugees and residents in Turkey.
The discussions were focused on the latest developments in the issue of the Syrian refugees in Istanbul. The Coalition’s legal committee gave an overview of the legal status of the Syrian refugees and residents in Turkey under the Refugee Convention of 1951 as well as under the Turkish Temporary Protection Act of 2016 which the Turkish government issued to address the issue of Syrian refugees.
Participants in the meeting put forward suggestions to solve the problems of the Syrian refugees in Turkey so as to ease the tension inside the Turkish community, stressing the bonds of friendship and fraternity between the Syrian and Turkish peoples and the historical relationship between the two countries.
President of the Syrian Coalition, Anas al-Abda, said that he had recently communicated with several Turkish officials to discuss the latest measures against the Syrian refugees in Istanbul.
Al-Abda pointed out that the Coalition is currently arranging a meeting with the Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, adding that he will put forth important recommendations to solve the problems of the Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Al-Abda thanked Turkey for bearing the onerous burden of hosting the largest percentage of Syrian refugees in its territory over the past several years. He stressed the importance of abiding by the Turkish laws and showing respect for the customs and traditions of the Turkish society.
Moreover, Al-Abda called for stopping the deportation of Syrian refugees who do not have a temporary protection identity card. He urged the Turkish authorities to give Syrian refugees who does not meet the latest rules a period of at least three months to settle their status in accordance with the relevant Turkish laws.
Al-Abda also pointed to the importance of facilitating the granting of work permits to the Syrian refugees and allowing Syrian households who have ID cards issued in other provinces to settle their status. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
