One in four asylum seekers this year is from Turkey

asylum seekers july - UDI familyThe Norwegian Department of Immigration (UDI). Photo Norway Today Media

So far this year, 2,882 asylum seekers have come to Norway; 500 fewer than at the same time last year. One in four asylum seekers this year is from Turkey.

By the end of November, the Immigration Directorate received 723 asylum applications from Turkish citizens. In second place, Afghans with 432 applicants, Syrians are third  with 396, while 249 asylum seekers from Eritrea have arrived.

At the end of November, 3,840 persons were living in Norwegian asylum reception centres, about 1,800 fewer than one year ago. 701 of the residents are from Turkey.

Few Refusals
The asylum applications from Turkish citizens were suspended after  UDI in July decided to stop processing asylum applications from Turkish citizens pending further investigation. The investigations were completed this autumn and the processing of applications has been resumed. UDI has granted asylum to 69 Turks so far this year, whilst eight have been refused.

Most Turks argue that asylum applications are linked to the forbidden Gülen network and being pursued by Turkish authorities. So far, most people who have applied for asylum on this basis have received protection in Norway, according to UDI.

The practice continues
In October last year, the Ministry of Justice issued a circular stating that Turkish citizens who can point to attachment to the Gülen network are entitled to protection. This practice will continue, UDI announced to NTB earlier autumn.

UDI has reduced the application backlog with 2,459 asylum applications this year, and a total of 1,329 people have been granted their application for protection in Norway. About 75 percent of those who have received protection are from Syria or Eritrea, show fresh UDI numbers.

The grant share is 72 per cent for those who get their application  processed. For other applicants, the grant share is 54 per cent on avarage.

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