The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) has released a policy paper to raise its grave concern over recent steps taken by the Turkish government towards the arbitrary deprivation of nationality of Turkish citizens living abroad, as well as the denial of important consular services to them. ISI has reported 76 cases of denial of passport or nationality ID for new-borns, 695 cases of denial of consular service and 19 cases of confiscation of passports.
Stating that “Being denied consular assistance and services results in individuals being denied access to other rights, including the right to birth registration, to obtain documents and to enter your own country,” ISI said that “Those denied consular services do not have access to legal recourse due to a lack of due process standards.”
“In addition to this, there have been 10 reported cases of Turkish nationals living in Cambodia, China, the Philippines and Nigeria, who were not allowed to leave their countries of residence, restricting their freedom of movement. There have also been 78 reported cases of deportation of Turkish citizens to Turkey since the attempted coup. There is a risk of such deportations being in violation of the principle of non-refoulement, in light of reports of torture and other gross human rights abuses inflicted on Turkish citizens who have been extradited to Turkey,” underlined the ISI report.
The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion is an independent non-profit organization committed to promoting the human rights of stateless persons and fostering inclusion to ultimately end statelessness. The Institute is registered as a Foundation under Dutch Law, and has an affiliation with Tilburg University, the Netherlands.
Reminding that these actions come in the aftermath of the attempted military coup d’état of 15 July 2016, the ISI added that “after which, the Turkish government engaged in wide-ranging, arbitrary and disproportionate attacks on the human rights and security of Turkish citizens. Six months after the coup d’état on 6 January 2017, Decree (KHK) 680 was published, establishing procedures for the arbitrary deprivation of nationality for Turkish citizens living outside of Turkey.”
“There have also been many reports of the denial of consular services and related deprivations for Turkish citizens living abroad, including the cancellation and confiscation of passports, the refusal to extend the validity of passports, and the refusal to provide nationality identity cards or passports to children born to Turkish citizens abroad,” stated ISI.
According to the ISI analysis, the deprivation of nationality is the act of an individual being stripped citizenship by their state, severing the legal bond with the state and annulling the rights that were once held as a citizen. International human rights law prohibits the arbitrary deprivation of nationality. The actions of the Turkish authorities exacerbate a growing international trend in which an increasing number of states (threaten to) deprive their citizens of nationality on the stated aim of protecting ‘national security’.
Reminding that Turkey is party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and various core UN human rights treaties including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ISI underlined “the actions of Turkish authorities over the past few years to suppress dissent, violate basic rights and restrict the freedoms of citizens perceived as opposing the Erdoğan regime are well documented. The situation further deteriorated after the attempted coup, paving the way for an unprecedented crackdown on the human rights of Turkish citizens and residents.”
“There is concern that the failed coup is being used by the state as a pretext to engage in a wider crackdown and to target dissent. As of 14 July 2017, over 138,000 persons have been dismissed from their jobs, over 118,000 individuals – including teachers, journalists, military personnel, activists and judges – have been detained and over 55,000 arrested,” stated the ISI.
Some excerpts from the ISI report are as follow:
“The government is also targeting for investigation and reprisal, many persons who live outside Turkey or have recently fled the country. Three months after the attempted coup President Erdoğan began to question the status of citizenship of those who would not return to be investigated. For example, he stated in one address to the country that ‘Sons of this nation will return and tell the truth to the relevant authorities about whatever they know [about the coup plotters]. If they do not, they will pay the price. At the very least, we will not say that ‘this is our citizen.’ We will do whatever is necessary wherever we find them.’ He also stated in another address that ‘We have entered their lairs. They run, we are told to chase them. Are they running? Let them become citizens of the places to which they flee. They will no longer be citizens of this country.’ These public statements have paved the way for what was to follow, justifying the removal of citizenship of those who fled the country or had opposed the regime from outside.”
“Under Article 91 of the Turkish Constitution, parliament ordinarily authorises the government to issue decree laws on specified issues. During a state of emergency, the government does not require parliament authorisation to legislate by emergency decree laws. Instead, it can issue decree laws simply on the basis of a declaration of the state of emergency, approved by parliament.“
“On 6 January 2017, six months after the failed coup, Decree (KHK) 680 was published. Article 75 of the Decree establishes the procedures for the arbitrary deprivation of nationality for Turkish citizens living outside of Turkey. The Decree stipulates that the following paragraph be added to Article 29 of the Turkish Citizenship Law (unofficial translation): (2) In cases where investigation or prosecution has been carried out on the grounds of the crimes stated in the Turkish Penal Code dated 26/9/2004 and numbered 302, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314 and 315 of the Turkish Penal Code, citizens who cannot be reached because of not being in the country shall be notified to the Ministry for the revocation of their citizenship within one month after investigation by the public prosecutor or by the court during the proceedings. In the event that they do not return to the country within three months despite the announcement made in the Official Gazette by the Ministry of Interior, the Turkish citizenship of these persons may be deprived by the proposal of the Ministry and the decision of the Council of Ministers.’’
“Accordingly, Turkish citizens living abroad who are under investigation for specific crimes, face losing their nationality if they do not return. The crimes specified are as follows:
– Article 302 of Section 14 of the Penal Code entitled ‘Offences against National Security’, which relates to ‘provocation of war against the state’.
– Articles 309 – 315 of Section 15 of the Penal Code, which list various crimes relating to ‘Offences against Constitutional Order and Operation of Constitutional Rules’.“
“It is important to note that those affected are merely under investigation for these purported crimes. Their failure to return to the country and surrender themselves to the authorities – widely known for arbitrary arrests, detention and torture – may result in them being stripped of their nationality, even though they have not been convicted of any crime. The crimes listed, are not themselves punishable through the revocation of nationality. In essence, Decree 680 penalises the failure to cooperate with a criminal investigation with the deprivation of nationality.”
“Significantly, stripping citizenship as a means of coercing someone to submit to a human rights violating criminal process is, at a minimum, ‘arbitrary’ and a violation of international human rights standards. Furthermore, for the withdrawal of citizenship to not be arbitrary, international law requires that it has a clear, non-retroactive legal basis; observes due process guarantees; serves a legitimate purpose; is the least intrusive measure possible to achieve that purpose; is in accordance with international standards; is non-discriminatory and proportionate. States also hold particular obligations with respect to the avoidance of statelessness, given the severely detrimental impact this can have on individuals affected and members of their families.”
“Drawing on available information, the Institute is of the position that this Decree fails to serve a legitimate purpose, is disproportionate in its impact on individual rights, undermines the principle of legal certainty and is retroactive in nature. Furthermore, there is no provision in the decree for any judicial oversight or right to appeal any decision to deprive citizens of their nationality. There is also no provision of any safeguard to ensure that deprivation of citizenship will not result in statelessness.”
“It is also important to note that this decree only impacts persons living abroad. In essence, it serves to keep those individuals in exile. The International Law Commission has stated that ‘a State shall not make its national an alien by deprivation of nationality for the sole purpose of expelling him or her.’ It is evident therefore that on a number of grounds, the implementation of Decree 680 will result in the arbitrary deprivation of nationality of Turkish citizens, in violation of international standards.”
“Further to the issuance of Decree 680, the Turkish Ministry of Justice declared that it would issue a “return home” Gazette Notice naming those who were overseas and being investigated for the crimes outlined. The return home notice is based on Article 75 of the Decree and sets out that the failure of named individuals to present themselves before the Turkish authorities will result in the revocation of their citizenship by Cabinet decision.”
“On 5 June 2017, a “return home” notice published in the Official Gazette contained the names of 130 individuals who were issued summons to return to Turkey and present themselves for criminal investigation. Recipients of the notice have a three-month period to surrender themselves for investigation. This timeframe expires on 4 September 2017. Turkish human rights defenders are extremely concerned that the publication of this notice marks the beginning of the arbitrary deprivation of nationality en masse, of those perceived as dissidents.”
“US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen who is accused of masterminding the failed July 2016 coup was among those issued a “return home” notice in June and his case is the first to be referred to court for the revocation of nationality to be implemented. Two lawmakers of the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) are also named. The HDP lawmakers are accused of “providing arms to a terror organization” and “engaging in terror organization propaganda,” with an arrest warrant already issued for them. Parliament is also reviewing dossiers to strip their parliamentary status due to absence.”
“The potential impact of Decree 680 is yet to be fully understood as its implementation is still in progress. Those deprived of citizenship will not be able to return to their country and may not be able to leave their country of residence. Those who have no second nationality risk being rendered stateless. They will rely on international protection under the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol or subsidiary protection under other mechanisms. Those who do not receive any international protection will be particularly vulnerable. In addition to the risk of being arbitrarily deprived of nationality, parents are likely to be unable to transfer nationality to their children, potentially resulting in the denial of the child’s right to acquire a nationality under Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
“There have been reports of the denial of consular services and related deprivations for Turkish citizens living abroad. These include the cancellation and confiscation of passports, the refusal to extend the validity of passports and the refusal to provide nationality IDs or passports to children born to Turkish citizens abroad. While the full extent of these actions are not known, the table below sets out the cases that have been brought to the attention of the Institute, during the period April – June 2017. This appears to be a growing problem.”
In light of the above analysis of the threat of arbitrary deprivation of nationality and the denial of consular services to Turkish citizens living outside the country, the ISI urges the international community to ensure the protection of such persons. ISI has recommended international community that “Directly address as a matter of priority and importance, the deteriorating human rights situation in Turkey, including in relation to the arbitrary deprivation of nationality of Turkish citizens, through relevant and appropriate United Nations, Council of Europe and other international and regional mechanisms, as well as through bilateral diplomatic engagement.”
“Ensure that Turkish citizens are not deported to Turkey, where they risk being subject to severe and irreparable harm or persecution. Such deportations may contravene international obligations under the principle of non-refoulement.”
“Consider granting refugee status to Turkish citizens who have been issued summons under Decree 680 or denied consular services, where such individuals face the threat of persecution.”
“Strengthen understanding and application of the international law prohibition of the arbitrary deprivation of nationality.”
“Strengthen documentation and awareness of steps being taken to arbitrarily deprive Turkish citizens of nationality, deny them consular services and violate their rights. Flag particular profiles and cases of individuals at risk of statelessness and refoulement to relevant state, UN and civil society actors.”
July 17, 2017
