Interest in the upcoming Turkish elections goes beyond Turkey, as the event is followed and its results are awaited by several external parties, foremost of which are the countries and peoples of the region. But the most interested group are the Arabs living on Turkish soil, because the elections have a direct impact on them, especially those who hold Turkish citizenship.
Electoral file
On the schedule of the upcoming elections in Turkey are several factors that seem to affect the voter vote, such as the economic conditions and the devastating earthquake that struck the south of the country months ago, electoral alliances, lists of candidates for parliament, foreign policy and others. However, an additional file on top of all of the above is the file of refugees or foreign residents on Turkish territory, especially Syrians.
One of the most important promises of the traditional opposition in Turkey over the past years, specifically the Republican People's Party (CHP), has been: to return Syrians to their country in just two years if the elections are won. Later, racist currents and personalities were captured later by the "Zafar" Party, headed by the former leader of the Nationalist Movement Party - and then in the Good Party - Ümit Özdağ, who based the party's vision, discourse and goals almost entirely on the file of foreigners and refugees.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) appreciated that the refugee file, especially Syrians, was among the reasons for losing the Istanbul municipality specifically in the 2019 municipal elections, and that it may affect its chances in the upcoming elections, so the government sought to withdraw this pretext from the opposition and reduce the weight of the file in the electoral process. The government provided information and statistics related to foreigners in Turkey to refute some rumors, and then worked to frame and determine the foreign presence on Turkish territory in terms of residence permits in large cities and some other procedural matters. This has contributed to reducing the intensity of media circulation of the file, especially since the earthquake and economic conditions have recently become more important and heavier in the electoral balance, but the debate has not completely ended.
With the beginning of the election campaign and the clarity of the presidential candidates, talk about foreigners in the country returned from the point of view of "election security", as some parties in the opposition exaggerated the number of naturalized foreigners who are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, and put the matter in the context of risks and threats to the voting process.
Right-wing candidate Sinan Oğan, for example, claimed that there are nearly one million voters above the normal expected number of voters across Turkey, and that most of them may be foreigners, warning of the impact on the voting process. He shared concerns about the "security of the elections" with candidate Muharrem Ince, although CHP circles and its candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke of much lower numbers that underestimated the impact on the election and its results.
The right-wing Atta or Grandparents alliance, led by the extremist Victory Party towards refugees, remains exclusively focused on the file of refugees and Syrians in particular, even in its election campaign and field tours.
Duty and prohibition
Therefore, in short, foreigners – especially Arabs and Syrians – find themselves at the heart of the electoral process, and even one of its most important files and the items of its electoral campaigns, this time against their will, after they were mostly interested in the elections, their details and possible results by choice.
Moreover, the efforts of some parties, especially the Justice and Development Party, to communicate with naturalized foreigners and Syrians in particular regarding the elections have received some criticism, although it is natural that these people now hold Turkish citizenship and enjoy the rights and duties that fall on the shoulders of all Turkish citizens, including voting, and it is obvious that political parties and presidential candidates seek to win their affection, support and votes as they do with the rest of the Turkish people. Despite all this, these efforts are proceeding unannounced, apparently to avoid potential controversy, contrived noise, media campaigns and discriminatory rhetoric.
Therefore, in light of this targeting of them and exaggerations in portraying their numbers and influence in the elections, as well as overcoming the idea that they are citizens and therefore have the full right to participate in the electoral process, and in light of the great polarization in the country, foreigners, especially Arabs, have responsibilities related to the elections, in order to avoid any friction or incitement, as well as what is greater and more dangerous.
In the first place, direct public and social media calls for support for one of the parties to the electoral process, especially non-Turkish nationals, should be avoided, as this may be considered unacceptable interference by many.
Large public gatherings are also discouraged during election campaigns, particularly on polling day, as well as any friction or actions that may be classified by some as provocative. In other words, it is necessary to avoid giving a pretext to some racist parties to launch incitement campaigns that could endanger both foreigners and civil peace in the country, even if they fall under the permissible legal framework that is the right of all.
But all this does not mean giving in to racist currents – few in number and influence, so vocal and controversial – and thus abandoning acquired rights. Participation in the elections for those who have obtained Turkish citizenship is a legal and political right that is not taken away from its owner, but may even reach the level of duty as is the case with any other citizen, especially since Turkish elections usually witness a large turnout and a high participation rate.
In light of the great polarization in the country, foreigners, especially Arabs, have responsibilities related to elections, in order to avoid any friction or incitement, as well as what is greater and more dangerous.
In this case, Al-Arabi is no longer just a follower of the elections out of curiosity and/or support, nor is he affected by their results, as is the case with some countries and peoples of the region, but has become a Turkish citizen who is directly affected by the outcome of the elections, and has a responsibility to participate in their drafting. Moreover, this new citizen has the right to join political parties and practice political and societal activity in all its forms as long as he is under the law, and even has the right to run for elections if he wishes to do so and meets the conditions.
However, in principle, and regarding the upcoming elections, Turkish citizens have the right and duty to participate in the vote, including the need to know the legal steps in the electoral process, such as the place of voting, how to vote, its conditions, invalidations, etc., which have recently become available in various Arab media interested in Turkish affairs and translation from reliable Turkish sources.
In the case of polarization in Turkey and the differences in promises, vision, and projects between the various alliances and their presidential candidates, participation in the vote becomes more obligatory and asceticism is reprehensible and harmful. Therefore, it is preferable to look at the existing system of alliances, presidential candidates, political backgrounds, biographies, history, achievements, electoral programs and promises... etc., up to the voting decision. Those who have acquired Turkish citizenship have become part of the fabric of the Turkish people, as the Balkans, Iraqis and many others have done, and they should not feel that they are still foreigners or strangers to the country, but should exercise their right and national duty to contribute to the selection of who will preside over the country and who will represent them in parliament.