Turkey: Follow-up to Responses to Information Requests TUR23765.E of 8 May 1996 on whether an individual undergoes a security check upon exiting Turkey at Istanbul airport, and on whether s/he would be prevented from leaving if s/he were known to be associated with an illegal political party; and TUR23766.E of 8 May 1996 on whether an educated, working, single or divorced woman can live alone in Istanbul without "family protection"
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TUR24346.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Follow-up to Responses to Information Requests TUR23765.E of 8 May 1996 on whether an individual undergoes a security check upon exiting Turkey at Istanbul airport, and on whether s/he would be prevented from leaving if s/he were known to be associated with an illegal political party; and TUR23766.E of 8 May 1996 on whether an educated, working, single or divorced woman can live alone in Istanbul without "family protection", 1 June 1996, TUR24346.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aba514.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided in a 27 May 1996 telephone interview with an official of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Ottawa. The information was clarified in a 28 May 1996 follow-up telephone conversation with the same official.
The security check that is carried out by Turkish authorities of individuals exiting Turkey via Istanbul airport is similar to that carried out at most airports around the world. Individuals walk through a metal detector and undergo a body search; their baggage is also checked by security. This type of security is part of airport and transport security.
The official stated that the names of all individuals exiting Turkey at Istanbul airport are automatically run through a computer to see whether they appear on the list of people to be prevented from leaving the country for reasons of, for example, tax evasion or committing a crime. Should the name of an individual appear on this list for tax evasion, for example, s/he will be informed that his/her name appeared on a list of tax evaders sent by the minister of finance and that s/he cannot leave the country until the taxes have been paid.
The official stated that all political parties are legal in Turkey and can function freely. The official clearly stated that a terrorist underground organization is not a legal political party. Any individual who is known to have committed a terrorist crime or is a known member of a terrorist group associated with terrorist acts such as bombings, kidnappings, political murders, etc., will be prevented from leaving the country to provide room for judicial action. The official pointed out that this policy is common practice for all countries.
Responding to the question of whether a single, educated woman can live alone in Istanbul without "family protection," the official stated that if a single or divorced, educated, working woman has the financial means to live alone in Istanbul, she can do so. If, however, the woman is unemployed and unable to support herself, she would probably have to turn to her family for assistance. The official pointed out that Istanbul is a large city that is divided into many districts, each having its own character, some more conservative than others. Should this woman feel any social pressure from the people of her district because she is living alone, she can move to another district and thus can feel more comfortable; the official emphasized that having the financial means is the deciding factor of her actions.
The official stated that although 95 per cent of Turkey's population is Muslim, education is secular and will therefore not have an influence on whether a woman will live alone in Istanbul or not. The official also pointed out that although the current mayor of Istanbul is a member of the Welfare Party (RP, a Turkish Islamist party), who won 20 per cent of the vote in the March 1994 local elections, 80 per cent of Istanbul's population is secular. The percentage gives a clear idea about the predominant secular character of the city.
For information on the role of Islam in Turkey, please consult the January 1995 Current History attachment.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Ottawa. 28 May 1996. Telephone interview with an official.
_____. 27 May 1996. Telephone interview with the same official.
Attachment
Current History [Philadelphia]. January 1995. Jenny B. White. "Islam and Democracy: The Turkish Experience," pp. 7-12.
