2023-05-11 23:12:00
Integration researchers expect a wave of emigration from Turkey if Turkish President Erdogan wins the elections. There are some Kurds in the country who are making escape plans – like Turgut.
Turgut actually has a different name. He doesn’t want to be recognized for fear. The 30-year-old lives in the Kurdish stronghold of Diyarbakir in south-east Turkey. “Live your life as if you had never lived it before” is written in English on his T-shirt, and “Enjoy every minute of it”. But the young Kurd with the hip full beard is a long way from that.
He’s nervous as he talks – and tries to keep an eye on the entrance to his café, which he opened a few months ago. Since then, he’s struggled with restrictions on live music, rising taxes on alcohol and other new regulations. All of this makes it difficult for him to earn enough money, he explains: “The economic pressure is great. If I were to get married now, I would have to incur large debts for an apartment, gold jewelry, a facility. That’s just the way it is for all young people here People.”
Family fights for more rights for Kurds
His fingers play with his lighter. Finally, he begins to talk about his family, who are politically active. In this region, that means fighting for more rights for Kurds — in what form, he doesn’t say. He himself used to be involved with the youth of the pro-Kurdish party HDP. That brought him two court cases – without a conviction, he says and makes a face.
He must get out of Turkey if Erdogan stays in power to avoid ending up in prison. “It’s about our resistance, our uprising from back then. And now they’re trying to intimidate you with investigations, trials and imprisonment.” He always has one leg in prison, he says as he turns back to the entrance – regardless of whether he’s politically involved or not.
“As soon as I get the offer, I’m gone”
Last week he was at the Dutch consulate in Istanbul. “I’ve already applied for a Schengen visa. But I’ve heard that you often only get one after the second or third application. I still have a shop and a job here. I would first travel there as a tourist. A work visa and so on – that would be the second step.”
In an emergency, he would also clean toilets in the Netherlands, he says, and grabs a pen as a new toy. A friend wanted to go to Greece illegally with smugglers last week. He hasn’t heard from him since then. He’s worried.
There is hardly any furniture in his apartment near the café. Next to the bed are a small carry-on suitcase and a backpack. “I’ll take the two bags with me. They’re still empty. But all my things are ready. I even packed my shoes in the boxes. Everything’s ironed. As soon as I get the confirmation, I’ll be gone.”
There is hardly any furniture in Turgut’s apartment. He is prepared to leave the country quickly.
Kurds fear an even worse situation
He digs out a couple of crumpled pieces of paper from his backpack, the receipts for his visa application. He paid 2,000 lira, the equivalent of almost 100 euros: that’s a lot of money in Turkey these days. The money is gone even if his application is denied. It’s worth it to him. He would also leave his girlfriend behind for a new life in freedom.
The race in the presidential election between Erdogan and his challenger Kilicdaroglu is tight. “If Kilicdaroglu wins, we will celebrate. If the government wins again, everything will remain as it is,” says Turgut. Or worse, many Kurds fear. Under no circumstances would Turgut give up his plans to emigrate entirely, he says – while now he’s letting his lighter wander through his fingers again. It’s snowing like he doesn’t trust anyone anymore.
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