Minister: 1,300 Syrians currently jailed in Turkey

Turan Yılmaz - ANKARA

AFP photo

Some 1,300 Syrians are currently jailed in Turkey, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ announced, noting that 2,400 Syrians in total have been imprisoned due to arrests or convictions. Bozdağ’s announcement came late Feb. 17 during a session of the parliament’s general assembly while he was responding to questions from opposition deputies on a draft law concerning citizens’ personal data.

Registration of Syrian refuges is being done during their entry into Turkey by officials based in border areas, Bozdağ said. 

“However, it is known that there are unregistered Syrians. Governors’ offices and related police departments are registrating them [unregistered Syrians] as required. Our ministers with related portfolios are working on resolving problems about these [unregistered Syrians],” he also said.

A deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Niyazi Nefiz Kara, referred to a deal between the EU and Turkey. The EU has pledged to give a fund of 3 billion euros for Turkey to improve living conditions of refugees in exchange for Ankara ensuring fewer of them migrate to Europe. 

Kara called the deal “a slave bargain,” and added that average daily number of births among Syrians in Turkey was 96.

“They assume that they would stay here if they give birth to a child,” he said. “In total, more than 120,000 births took place.”

Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Hüsniye Erdoğan, meanwhile, said birth control was being implemented by the Health Ministry for Syrian refugees.