Erdogan Declares Turkish Citizenship For Syrian, Iraqi Refugees
MEP: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly announced to provide nationality card for some of the millions of Syrian and Iraqis who have fled to Turkey.
In a speech broadcast on television on Friday, Erdogan said that security checks would be carried out to determine who among the millions who fled war in their home countries were eligible for citizenship.
“Our interior ministry is carrying out work, and under this work, some of them will be granted our nationality after all the necessary checks have been carried out,” he said.
The country is hosting more than three million Syrians and Iraqis who have fled war already, according to Turkish government figures.
The President added that they must not work illegally, and they should be allowed to become citizens of Turkey.
The Turkish leader outlined a naturalisation plan last summer but the idea was met with angry protests and xenophobic comments on social media.
