Germany: Immigration of the Suffocated

Click to read the artice in Turkish / Kurdish

The common ground of these people, the opinions of whom we had access to, is feeling exasperated in their environment. We can describe their state of mind as abandoning their current location in stressful moments by saying, “I am suffocated, I am going out for fresh air.” What provides the ones who were able to leave for fresh air however, is not the country they live now, but each other. However, it is not the country in which they now live that provides them with the fresh air, but rather each other.

According to data gathered up to March 31, 2016, the number of citizens of Turkey who have a 1 to 4 year residence permit for Germany is 37,729. This data shows us the leap in these figures started in early 2012 and did not end before 2016. 

Hence, the data led us to the Gezi Park protests and their aftermath as our interviewees also express. Their biggest support is the solidarity they learned those days. We can understand from the practices they narrate to us, that what they hold on to at moments of despair are each other. From the practices they narrated to us, we can understand that they hold onto each other in moments of despair.

The new generation from Turkey

It is possible to speak of a different diaspora, spontaneously formed by those who have emigrated from Turkey to Germany, especially to Berlin, during the period we have mentioned above. The fact that the common ground of the individuals we interviewed  eventually came to the Gezi Park protests and their aftermath led us to name this new diaspora the “Gezi Diaspora.”

It’s necessary to state that those who settled in Germany in previous years have not mixed with the generations formed by the newcomers. For instance, what Hasan Abi, the restaurant manager of “Ein Laden,” says about the differences between the generations is explanatory. “Ein Laden” is the gathering point for people from Turkey in Berlin Weser Strasse, and Hasan Abi has witnessed the existences of three different generations over 40 years. He says: “The majority of the newcomers are different from those who came earlier for economic reasons. The newcomers are educated and intellectual. They are a loss for Turkey and a gain for Germany. Germany is aware of this. 

The people coming now are a completely different diaspora. They are mostly journalists, writers and filmmakers. They don’t have a problem opposing Turkey; they try to keep on doing what they did there. And they keep coming.”

It seems that the present conditions in Turkey will continue to cause the emigration of people to Germany or other parts of the world. Another piece of data that should be recorded is that almost all graduates of Robert College, Deutsche Schule and Saint Benoit High School are applying for universities abroad. **

An accelarating motion

Some of the main interviewees in our article have justifiably asked to remain anonymous, as they fear the oppressive and stigmatizing atmosphere in Turkey and the fact that it could affect their return. They fear speaking about the country’s impact on their psychological condition, let alone criticizing the course of events. The fact that they wanted to remain anonymous as they are anxious whether “something would happen to them” or “they make trouble for their families at home” is a testimony to how uncomfortable their days in Germany are.  

As the reporters of this piece, we are two journalists who vacated the country after the oppression of critical media in Turkey, and we experienced similar processes like the ones included in the statistics above. We are among the growing body of people who escaped the oppression they suffered and emigrated to Germany for a better future, and we are among those who do not have the privilege to shake hands with Angela Merkel. We observe that there is an accelerating but completely different motion, although it is very difficult to watch the uncertain condition of the country from here. We can say that if the thirst of this majority for production meets the free productive spaces in Germany, substantial results might be attained. This report that we have presented is only the tip of the iceberg. (VA-İK/NU/HK)

* The statistics utilized in this report are provided by Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany

** Liseli öğrencilerinin gözü yurtdışında [High schoolers look out to abroad]  - http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/egitim/651644/Liseli_ogrencilerinin_gozu_yurtdisinda.html

* The "Unemployed Journalists Chasing News" project is being realized with the financial support of Matra-Human Rights Program of Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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UNEMPLOYED JOURNALİSTS CHASİNG NEWS

1- Even Though They Speak Through Their New “Occupations,” They Are Journalists

2- Journalism is Banned under theState of Emergency

3- Germany: New Generation Diaspora/Kopuntu

4- Germany: Immigration of the Suffocated

5- The Organization that Made "The Arab Girl Looks from the Window"

6- How They Work/Cannot Work, Breaking Down the Stereotypes

7- They Marry White People to Avoid Discrimination

8- Private Rehabilitation Centers and Problems: The Example of Bingöl

9- Two Directors Discuss the “Educational Support for People with Disabilities” Practices

10- 'Solution is Inclusion System in Education for People with Disabilities'

11- Students and Parents from Bingöl Tell of Their Experiences

* The "Unemployed Journalists Chasing News" project is being realized with the financial support of Matra-Human Rights Program of Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.