ICC Note: A new emergency order has been issued in Turkey that makes it very easy for the country to deport expatriates. This comes as a major concern after two american christians were recently deemed a security threat and ordered to leave the country. The new order makes it possible for the ministry of interior to deport anyone is deems a threat without judicial order or review.
11/01/2016 Turkey (Morning Star News): An emergency order issued over the weekend makes it significantly easier for Turkey to deport expatriates, further unsettling foreign Christians after the government this month ordered the deportation two U.S. Christians.
The directive eliminates the need for a court decision before a foreigner can be deported, amending sections of the 2013 Law on Foreigners and International Protection, as reported in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Turkey on Saturday (Oct. 29). Now the government, in particular the Ministry of the Interior, can independently deport anyone it deems a threat to “public security” without a judicial order or review.
The Christians ordered deported earlier this month were accused of being such security risks.
The change in the law is one of many made by the government in the wake of the unsuccessful coup attempt on July 15. Since then, the government enacted a “state of emergency” that allows it to suspend the law and imprison anyone it deems a threat to the country. Officials assert the emergency laws are necessary to fight terrorists and those responsible for the attempted coup, but critics say the moves amount to a purge of anyone critical of the government.
Many foreign Christians in Turkey were already concerned about being deported or banned from returning to the country, in light of the two U.S. Christians the government ordered deported, and have considered canceling Christmas travel plans. The new order compounds the government’s already expanded powers.
“It’s just like they can come to your door and drag you out of your home, and there is nothing you can do about it,” one expatriate Christian who asked not to be identified said. “It really makes no sense. They’re going after people who love the country, pray for it, help improve it and invest their money here, and not those who are really hurting the country.”
…
