Turkish presidential candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has said that he will send refugees from Afghanistan who arrive in Turkey from Iran to Iran and Afghanistan if he wins the election on 28 May.
“Within a maximum of 2 years, we will send the Syrians to Syria, the Afghans who arrived from Iran – to Iran. Let it be known in Syria, Iran and Afghanistan,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in a campaign event.
According to the Middle East Eye, Kılıçdaroğlu has taken a hard line on immigration, attacking Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of undermining Turkey’s security.
“You have deliberately brought more than 10 million refugees to this country… as soon as I come to power, I will send all the refugees home,” he said.
Turkey has long been a transit route for Refugees from Afghanistan and the Middle East to Europe.
The Turkish government has had a cordial relationship with the Taliban since before the group’s return to power in August 2021. The country has also gave sanctuary to a number of former political leaders who fled Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban.
