Report by Taha Odeh
ISTANBUL, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- Thousands of Syrians in Istanbul and elsewhere are currently living in anxiety due to new measures by the Turkish authorities that hurriedly extradite those who do not carry some residency papers.
The main paper warranted by the local authorities is called the "Temporary Protection Identification Document." Jitters among the Syrians have soared, a few hours after expiry of an ultimatum for them to settle their presence in the nation legally.
Many of the Syrians, in Istanbul, other cities and regions, have opted to stay indoor fearing detention or expulsion.
The ruling Justice and Development Party of President Recept Tayyip Erdogan used to host the Syrians warmly after the crisis broke out in Syria in 2011, however it has recently changed the attitude and began to impose stringent measures on them.
According to Syrian human rights activists, many Syrians have been facing diverse problems. Although they have the right to appeal an extradition rule in 15 days since issuance of such a decision, the authorities speed up the expulsion.
Syrians also criticize the Turkish authorities for creating taxation troubles and other problems related to work permits.
Some 3,000 Syrian students reside at universities' buildings in Istanbul and there are tens of thousands who cannot obtain a residency permit.
Activists have been posting on social media footages of Turkish security personnel storming Arabs' residences, arresting those who do not carry official papers, prior to speedy departation.
Analysts believe that that the hard approach toward the Syrians is related to internal politics, namely the ruling party loss of municipal elections in Istanbul, in June, amid polls showing that proportion of Turks dismayed with the Syrians' presence climbed from 5.54 percent in 2017 to 7.67 percent in 2019.
In other words, the ruling party is changing its policy toward the Syrians in a bid to restore its strong popularity among the natives.
Totally, some 559,000 Syrians live in Istanbul. According to UN figures, there are some four millions Syrians in various regions of Turkey.
Although there are international conventions that safeguard refugees' rights, the Turkish authorities have recently expelled scores of Syrian refugees to northern Syria for failure to obtain the residency papers. (end) to.rk