İYİ Party's Zorlu proposes 'temporary protection period': 'Limit it to one year'

In a press conference held at the Parliament, Zorlu stated that "the distressing events in Kayseri and the subsequent distressing developments in the Syrian field are integral parts of the same problem."

Expressing that he views the assessment of President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding a potential meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad positively, Zorlu reminded that the İYİ Party was the first political party to make an application at the leadership level among political parties on this issue. Zorlu stated that all political parties in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) could come together to solve this problem, which has lost its sustainability and social foundations.

At this point, stating that it is time to amend the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Zorlu noted that while there is no time limit for temporary protection in Turkey, the European Union's temporary protection directive stipulates a one-year period, with a provision that this period can be extended in 6-month intervals if the reasons for temporary protection do not cease to exist.

Zorlu remarked, "Turkey, which hosts the highest refugee population in the world and has taken on this burden, does not foresee a time limit, but those who deem this burden fit for us protect themselves by imposing a maximum 3-year time limit."

PROPOSAL TO HOUSE THOSE GRANTED PROTECTION STATUS IN THE BORDER PROVINCE OF ENTRY

Announcing that he has submitted a legislative proposal to the Parliament Speaker's Office regarding an amendment to the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Zorlu stated that the proposal includes the following suggestions:

"The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) shall decide whether to grant temporary protection status to foreigners who have been forced to leave their country, are unable to return to the country they left, and have come to our borders or crossed our borders en masse in order to find urgent and temporary protection.

The duration of temporary protection is 1 year and can be extended for a maximum of 2 more years in six-month periods. Before the expiration of the period, the temporary protection status of those granted such status may be revoked in accordance with international norms for reasons of national security and public order.

In the event that the temporary protection period expires or the temporary protection status is revoked, the TBMM shall decide on the placement of the foreigners in their own countries, safe areas of their countries, or safe third countries.

Those granted temporary protection status shall be housed in the border province where they entered Turkey."

When asked about his assessment of the events in northern Syria, Zorlu noted that Turkey has carried out 3 legitimate operations in the region, but "some stakeholders used in the field have begun to spiral out of control because the problem is evolving toward a deadlock."