In Turkey, Afghan migrants in fear of inevitable deportation
An Afghan migrant rests after crossing the Turkish border from Iran on August 15, 2021 on the shores of Lake Van in western Turkey.
AFP - OZAN KOSE
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
As thousands of Afghans flee their country which has fallen into the hands of the Taliban, border states and the European Union are trying to find solutions to anticipate a new wave of refugees.
Turkey has signed the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees but applies a geographic restriction from which Afghans are excluded.
The work of the High Commissioner for Refugees, which assesses asylum applications, is marginal compared to the needs.
Around 300,000 on Turkish soil according to the authorities, Afghans have very little chance of obtaining refugee status and being regularized.
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With our correspondent in Istanbul,
Céline Pierre-Magnani
With a fan and a few cushions for comfort, Cihangir, 17, lives in a room of a few square meters with 6 other Afghans.
Without refugee status, he is terrified of being deported to Afghanistan
“
I never get out of here,” he
says.
I spend all my time here.
I did not meet any Turks.
You can't become friends, they tell me I'm Afghan.
"
When asked if he has taken steps to obtain the status, he shrugs his shoulders: “
It's not worth registering here, they don't give status.
"
►
See also: Turkey: demonstrations against the reception of new Afghan refugees
Legal vagueness
The Federation of Afghan Turkish Associations is based in Istanbul.
Its vice-president Edris Attar is worried about his community: “
Once they've been turned down, they stay here illegally.
If they are intercepted by the police, they are sent to detention centers to be deported.
"
The legal uncertainty persists.
However, with the capture of Kabul, a new wave of arrival seems inevitable.
►
To read also: Against the Afghan refugees, Turkey is building a concrete wall on its border with Iran
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Turkey
Afghanistan
Refugees
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