Yasser Al-Atrash, Baladi News
Statements of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the possibility of granting the Turkish citizenship to some Syrians in Turkey, which were also reinforced by an explanatory statement by the Prime Minister Bin Ali Yildirim, then followed by a confirmation from the president himself on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, preoccupied the Turkish and Syrian streets and continue to lead the debates and the scene among opponents, supporters, inquirers, and anticipators.
While some opposing Turkish parties to lodge protests against the decision according to journalistic sources, prominent Syrian opposition members like Burhan Ghalion and the brigadier general Asad Al-Zouabi believed that the possible step is poses a threat to the Arab and Sunni component with fears of evacuating them, which constitutes an inadvertent support to the separatist minorities. Some Turkish and Arab analysts attributed the step to affairs concerned with electoral and economic agenda, while some others linked it with the recent Turkish reconciliation file and returning to "zero-problem" phase.
With the beginning of the Ministry of Interior to put the executive regulations for the decision in preparation for submitting it to the parliament as stated by the presidents of Turkish state and government, press leaks and rumors started to lead the scene and predict what would the situation be or the possible requirements for naturalization.
Leaks of the Policy of "Pick and Choose"
The latest leaks were shocking to many as the decision is completely void of its content and most Syrians are left to despair or Assad's inferno.
Many newspapers and Arab websites have reported a Turkish newspaper saying that Ankara will grant 300 thousand Syrian refugee from the well-off and qualified the Turkish citizenship encouraging them to stay.
They have also reported "Haber Turk" newspaper that granting the citizenship will take place gradually and in the first stage, it will include between 30 to 40 thousand Syrians, out of about 2.7 million live in Turkey due to the war in their country, till the number reaches 300 thousand.
From a logical and legal point of view and by reference to the Turkish attitude from the Syrian issue as a whole, it is very difficult to trust the validity or rationality of these leaks, the thing here will be related to a state of selectively that is very difficult to define rules suitable for it!
Moreover, the Turkish Prime Minister, Bin Ali Yildirim, literally said that his country will not grant Turkish citizenship to the Syrians who were involved in terrorism and in activities that can disturb the peace and security of Turkey, adding that it is possible to grant the citizenship to people who contribute to the growth of Turkey.
Against Morals and Human Rights
Opinion polls previously conducted by research institutions and Turkish universities showed that about 70% of Syrians will not return to their country, even if the war came to an end. This is really close to a realistic poll I personally supervised in the city of Antakya, province of Hatay, where about 400 thousand Syrians live. The results of the poll concluded that about 70% want to stay in Turkey, while only 50% of them are thinking about obtaining Turkish citizenship.
Believing that it's impossible to grant the citizenship to all Syrians at once, however, a big percentage of them are not willing to take it for ideological, national or personal considerations, whereas denying it for those willing to take it and meeting the requirements, will fundamentally contradict moral and humanitarian dealing Turkey has been keen on showing at every occasion towards the Syrians, and will be a great religious mistake. This issue has its major importance which was explicitly declared by President Erdogan personally in many occasions, therefore, it can't be done by attracting the rich and leaving the poor to face their destinies, that death would probably be the least of which!
The leaks of the policy of "Pick and Choose" will put Turkey in a difficult place confronting human rights organizations in the world,. No one can justify choosing a handful of rich people and successful in exchange for depriving the hard-working and their children from the same rights, who deserve care the most and in desperate need of it!
Turkey is aware of this and will deal with the file intelligently and wisely and out of national interest, but will never turn a blind eye to moral and human aspect of this case. Therefore, Turkey will be "fair" in managing the file and I think that the word "fair" is the most accurate and realistic expression.