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Cemil Çiçek: Outdated policies on Turks in Europe must be addressed
Noting that some problems concerning the most basic human rights had still not been addressed, Çiçek said: “One important problem that needs solving is that Turkish citizens living in other countries do not have the right to vote in Turkish elections from abroad. This is something that both Turkey and European countries need to solve immediately.” Within the framework of the Labor Force Change Agreement signed between Turkey and Germany, there took place a symbolic 50th anniversary train journey to commemorate the first group of workers who left Turkey to work in Germany. Organized by TRT Türk, the “Germany Train” was seen off from İstanbul’s historic Sirkeci Train Station, just like 50 years ago. Çiçek accompanied travelers on the train all the way to its stop in Belgrade. He spoke with Sunday’s Zaman during the journey. Noting that when, after 1961, Turkey began to send considerable numbers of workers to Germany without any particular policies being put in place with regards to these groups, Çiçek said that as a state, Turkey literally forgot about its citizens who headed first to Germany and then later to other countries in Europe as workers. He said when they first left, it was thought that some would work abroad for a while and then would return.
He added that when the majority of these citizens decided to stay abroad for extended periods, some important demands that appeared on the agenda, such as requests for language teaching and children’s education, places for prayer and religious leaders, were not followed up by Turkey nor were they answered by the countries in which Turkish citizens were residing.
Çiçek said there were people shouldering extremely important duties for both Turkey and Europe, adding that after all, it was the sweat on the brow of Turkish workers that helped contribute to the development of the economies of those countries.
“What we need to do is strengthen our ties with these people. This is a topic that cannot be postponed any longer, by either Turkey or the countries where our expats reside,” he said.
Canan Topçu, traveling on the Germany Train, confirmed Çiçek’s words. “When I arrived in Germany with my family, I was a child. In the 36 years that followed, we encountered many problems and difficulties. We are dual citizens, and we cannot give up on either of our countries. Both Turkey and Germany need to sincerely consider our most basic human rights demands,” she said.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Manisa deputy Selçuk Özdağ told Sunday’s Zaman that complaints by these immigrant citizens are quite reasonable and that up until recently leaders in Turkey neglected these immigrants. “What then came about was a lost generation,” he underlined.
He said had Turkey sent capable cultural and religious envoys to support Turkish immigrants, not only would Turkish citizens’ integration efforts in their new countries have been eased, but they also would have been able to present their own cultures in a better way.
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