All News on Social Issues in Turkey
US voices regret about Afghan refugee comments amid diplomatic row
The U.S. walked back on Aug. 4 remarks from senior officials regarding Afghan refugee flows amid a diplomatic row with Turkey, and voiced regret about the comments.
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State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington "did not intend to single out any particular country as a destination for refugees."
US regrets Turkey’s concerns over Afghan migrants
A United States official has expressed Washington's regrets over Ankara's concerns that a recent U.S. decision on the Afghan migrants can lead to a potential travel of Afghans to Turkey, which criticized the former's "irresponsible" move.
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Government tightens border control measures against influx
Turkish authorities have been reinforcing border security amid an increased risk of irregular migrant inflow from countries including Afghanistan, the interior minister said on Aug. 4.
Municipal assembly approves mayor’s discriminatory motion against foreigners
The municipal assembly of the northwestern province of Bolu has accepted Mayor Tanju Özcan's proposal to charge a tenfold fee for the water bills and solid waste taxes of foreigners, mostly directed towards refugees who have settled in the city after fleeing war in Syria.
Turkey objects US plan on resettlement of Afghans
Turkey will not accept the "irresponsible" decision taken by the United States regarding the resettlement of Afghan refugees, because the plan addresses Turkey as the target country for application of the migration procedures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said on Aug. 3.
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Greece to Turkey: The Muslim minority in Greece & the Greek minority in Turkey used to be equal in numbers
Now the Muslim minority in Thrace numbers approximately 120,000 members while the Greek minority in Turkey has shrunk to only 3,000
Turkey condemns Greece for closing 12 more primary schools of Turks
Turkey condemned the decision of Greece for closing 12 more primary schools belonging to the Western Thrace Turkish minority, "using austerity measures and the insufficient number of students as an excuse."
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Authorities detain 14 suspects over brutal murder in Konya
Turkish authorities have detained 14 suspects in relation to the ruthless murder of seven members of a family by armed assailants in the Central Anatolian province of Konya's Meram district.
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Seven people, including women and children, from the Dedeoğulları family were killed at their house in a brutal gun attack on July 30.
63 irregular migrants held in central Turkey
A total of 63 irregular migrants were held in the Turkish capital Ankara, security sources said on July 31.
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Provincial police teams carried out an operation in the Gölbaşı district, and the migrants, all of them Afghan nationals, and two others were rounded up. Their deportation process is underway.
Bulgaria Sees Growing Migration Pressure - Interior Minister
Bulgarian caretaker Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov told Parliament that migration pressure on the country is increasing. "We are indeed seeing an increased migration pressure, the kind of pressure that also existed before the caretaker government took office," Rashkov said during a parliamentary hearing on 30 July.
Seven family members killed in Konya attack
Seven members of a family were killed on July 30 in central Turkey by armed assailants who tried to burn their house.
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The Dedeoğlu family had been seriously injured in another attack in the middle of May by neighbors in the region of Konya.
10 suspects were detained, according to a statement by the Chief Prosecutor's office in Konya.
Bulgaria's Caretaker Interior Minister: Migration Pressure on Bulgaria is Increasing
Bulgarian caretaker Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov told Parliament that migration pressure on the country is increasing. "We are indeed seeing an increased migration pressure, the kind of pressure that also existed before the caretaker government took office," Rashkov said during a parliamentary hearing held on a motion by the formerly ruling GERB party.
Over 145 irregular migrants held in central Turkey
A total of 147 irregular migrants were held in central Turkey early on July 30, according to officials.
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The Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Command said in a statement that the irregular migrants, including five Pakistanis, 142 Afghan nationals and two migrant smuggling suspects were held in the trailer of a truck stopped on the Ankara-Niğde highway.
Romania Busts Balkan-wide Migrant Smuggling Ring
Romanian organised crime prosecutors on Thursday announced the dismantling of a transnational syndicate with presences in several states across the Balkans that trafficked illegal immigrants into Western Europe.
BGN 160 Million Allocated by Caretaker Cabinet under 60/40 Job-retention Scheme
The caretaker cabinet with decision dated July 28th, allocated further BGN 160 million under the 60/40 job-retention measure According to the government estimates, this will save 80,000 jobs.