Ali Yerlikaya announces the number of Syrians who have become Turkish citizens

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya responded to questions and criticisms from members of parliament during the deliberations on his ministry's 2024 budget at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee.

Stating that the source of the allegation that the Turkish army "used chemical weapons" in its fight against terrorism is the PKK terrorist organization, Yerlikaya said, "The allegation that the Turkish army, whose record is full of heroism, glory, and honor, used chemical weapons is a great slander. I strongly condemn the voicing of these slanders in this valuable hall of our Grand National Assembly."

Yerlikaya stated that former HDP deputy Aysel Tuğluk was summoned by the Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Branch Directorate due to a decision by the Hakkari 2nd High Criminal Court to take her statement regarding the charge of "spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization," and provided the information: "Upon request, it was ensured that she gave her statement in court in the company of her relatives, without being handcuffed, taking her illness into consideration, and she was released by the relevant court after giving her statement."

Minister Yerlikaya said that between 2017 and 2023, a total of 9,119 personnel were dismissed from the Police, Gendarmerie, and Coast Guard, including 6,591 personnel from their profession and 2,528 from civil service.

"28 THOUSAND 734 AFGHAN CITIZENS WERE ENSURED TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY"

Sharing deportation figures based on Afghan nationals, Yerlikaya said, "As of the first 10 months of 2023, a total of 28,734 Afghan citizens were ensured to return to their country, with 14,386 via 77 charter flights, meaning special flights, and 14,348 via scheduled flights to Afghanistan. In addition, 1,788 more Afghan citizens will be deported with 9 charter flights planned for next week."

Regarding the allegations of "audit pressure on opposition municipalities," Yerlikaya provided the information: "Since the 2019 elections, the number of investigation approvals given is 1,055 for the AK Party, 1,342 for the CHP, 295 for the MHP, 40 for the IYI Party, 155 for the HDP, and 381 for others, totaling 3,268 investigation approvals. The figures for permission to investigate are 231 for the AK Party, 264 for the CHP, 91 for the MHP, 12 for the IYI Party, 95 for the HDP, and 30 for others. That is, 723 investigation permissions were granted. The approval for not granting permission to investigate is 393 for the AK Party, 418 for the CHP, 110 for the MHP, 27 for the IYI Party, 22 for the HDP, and 31 for others."

Minister Yerlikaya reported that 126 FETO members in 2022 and 136 in 2023 were caught by the Coast Guard Command, and 9 FETO members in 2022 and 13 in 2023 were caught jointly in the Aegean Sea and handed over to justice.

Upon a question regarding the health services provided to Syrians, Yerlikaya underlined that Syrians who do not have a temporary protection identity document containing a foreign identity number and foreigners who are not registered cannot benefit from public services in Turkey, including health.

Upon another question, Yerlikaya reported that there is a stock of 601,207 tents of various sizes to be used in a possible disaster.

237 THOUSAND 995 SYRIANS GRANTED TURKISH CITIZENSHIP

Stating that the number of Syrian nationals who have acquired Turkish citizenship as of today is 237,995, Yerlikaya said, "Among these, the number of those over 18 years old is 156,987."

Underlining that children of Syrians under temporary protection born in Turkey are not Turkish citizens, Yerlikaya used the expressions, "Children of Syrians under temporary protection born in Turkey are also under temporary protection. They have definitely not been granted citizenship, and they are not being granted it."

"WE MUST NOW REVIEW THE PENALTY FOR UNLICENSED WEAPONS"

Stating that 51,914 unlicensed weapons were seized across the country between January 1 and October 31, Yerlikaya said, "We must now review the penalty for unlicensed weapons. We have preparations regarding this. We will definitely, absolutely come before you with our proposal in the near future."

Stating that the relevant article of the Constitution regarding meetings and demonstration marches is clear, Yerlikaya said, "I would like to present the figure between the beginning of the year and September 30, 2023: Only 0.3 percent of the 36,670 actions and events organized with the participation of 15 million 652 thousand 961 people across the country were intervened in. We see that more than 99 percent of the actions and events took place in a democratic and free environment."

Regarding the allegation that the "protest rights of the Saturday Mothers are being blocked," Minister Yerlikaya recalled that consultations were held last week regarding an alternative place where the Saturday Mothers could continue their actions. Yerlikaya said, "This is a constitutional freedom. We are well-intentioned regarding the Saturday Mothers. They are already victims. Our President had said the same thing when he received them. Moving from his sentence, from his words at that time, I want to say that we will resolve this event, this issue, calmly and in the best way possible."

News Source: AA