Temporary protection status and Turkish citizenship of Syrians under temporary protection status

Throughout world history, various negative factors such as race, religion, and language have led people to leave their countries and seek refuge in another state. In modern times, reasons such as wars, economic crises, and natural disasters have brought forth the need for seeking asylum in another country. The fundamental basis of international protection law, including the concept of refugees and individual protection, has emerged in response to these negative circumstances, with the "1951 Geneva Convention" and the "1967 New York Protocol" being the cornerstone texts. Over time, the increasing number of people affected by adverse conditions worldwide has rendered individual protection mechanisms ineffective, prompting the consideration of temporary protection status to address the collective demand for protection. In Turkish law, the concept of "temporary protection" is regulated under Article 91 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection and was first implemented in 2011 when thousands of Syrians, affected by the internal war in the Syrian Arab Republic, sought refuge en masse within the borders of Turkey. Currently, there are millions of Syrians under temporary protection status in Turkey. Since the start of the conflict in 2011, Syrians who have been residing in Turkey, establishing lives and benefiting from the rights and services provided under temporary protection, face the reality that they cannot return to their country due to the ongoing war. This situation has brought the issue of acquiring Turkish citizenship to the forefront. In this study, the concept of international protection and its types will be addressed, followed by an overview of temporary protection as a mechanism aimed at collective protection. Lastly, the possibility of Syrians under temporary protection status acquiring Turkish citizenship will be examined within the scope of Turkish law.