Turkish nationals submitted a total of 13,741 first-time asylum applications and 710 repeat applications in Germany, as reported by Deutsche Welle Turkish service on Friday. These figures were cited from the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). According to the report, Turks ranked third in terms of nationality of applicants, after Syrians and Afghans.
In May, there were 1,875 applications from Turks, showing a stable trend compared to 1,965 in April and 1,885 in March. Overall, the number of first-time applications decreased by 17.6 percent year-on-year in the first five months of the year.
BAMF figures revealed that by the end of May, there were 236,187 pending applications. The number of Turkish nationals seeking asylum in Germany and other Western European countries has increased significantly since the failed coup in 2016, which led to a crackdown on dissent by the Turkish government and a collapse of judicial independence.
Additionally, the ongoing economic crisis in Turkey, characterized by skyrocketing inflation, the constant depreciation of the Turkish lira, and rising inequalities among the population, has prompted some Turks, particularly the young, to seek opportunities for a better life in Europe. Moreover, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s continued victory in the May presidential election last year led to disappointment among his opponents, prompting many to reconsider living in the country.
