Turkish court annuls xenophobic marriage fee policy of Afyon municipality

Duvar English

A Turkish administrative court on July 17 ruled to suspend the execution of the decision by the Afyonkarahisar Municipal Council to increase the marriage fee for immigrants by 25 times to 10,000 liras.

The International Refugee Rights Association filed a lawsuit in administrative court to annul the decision, citing its discriminatory treatment against immigrants. 

The court's ruling detailed the legal reasons for deeming the decision unlawful. In a statement about the ruling, the International Refugee Rights Association emphasized that migrants should not face discrimination and pledged to continue fighting against such unlawful decisions. The statement read: "In our lawsuit in the administrative court regarding the decision by the Afyonkarahisar Municipal Council to increase the marriage fee for refugees by 25 times to 10,000 liras, the court ruled to suspend the execution of the decision. The court's ruling thoroughly examined the reasons why the decision was unlawful."

Mayor Burcu Köksal from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on May 2 announced the decision at a municipal council that the 400lira fee was increased to 10,000 TL for migrants.

Council member Mahmut Emin Birliktir from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) opposed the decision, stating, "Throughout history, this nation has always stood by those in need. We are a hospitable nation. I see them as guests and want them to continue being treated as such. I am personally against the 25-fold increase."

Responding to Mahmut Emin Birliktir, Mayor Köksal said, "There is a limit to hospitality. This hospitality has extended too long. In our election promises, we pledged to send refugees back. If 51 percent of the voters elected us, they expect us to fulfill these promises."