Migrant Return Research at Uppsala University
Meeting with Prof. Andreas Önver Cetrez at Uppsala University, 5 September 2024
As part of a short-term research visit to the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS) at Uppsala University, Zühal Ünalp Çepel, Associate Professor Dr. at Dokuz Eylül University from Turkey conducted valuable research under the supervision of Andreas Önver Cetrez and Soner Barthoma, co-coordinators of the EU Horizon GAPs Project, Decentring the Study on Migrant Returns and Return Policies.
This visit, supported by the COST Action 20107 Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity (COREnet), offered critical insights into migrant organizations and return policies in Sweden.
During the visit, representatives from nine Turkish migrant organisations and the Education Counsellor of the Turkish Republic in Stockholm were interviewed. These discussions provided a deeper understanding of the challenges migrants face in Sweden, particularly concerning return policies. Insights gained emphasized both the ‘success of integration efforts’ over the past six decades and growing concerns over rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
The following Turkish migrant organizations in Sweden were engaged during this research:
Turkish Women’s Federation (Turkiska Kvinnoförbundet)
Swedish Turkish Idea and Culture Association (Svensk Turkisk İde och Kultur Förening)
Turkish Student and Academic Association (Turkiska Student- och Akademikerföreningen – TSAF)
Sweden-Turkish Federation (Svensk Turkiska Riksförbundet-STRF)
Alevi Federation of Sweden (Alevitiska Riksförbundet), NCDK Sverige (Kurdiska Demokratiska Samhällscentret i Sverige), Solidarity Association (Solidaritetsförening)
Handen Islamic Culture Association (Haninge Islamiska Kulturförening)
Göteborg National Theater Association (Göteborg Riksteaterförening) and Sweden-Turkish Federation District Organization (Svensk Turkiska Distriktsorganisationen)
Support Association for Turkish Women (Stödföreningen för Turkiska Kvinnor) and Sweden-Turkish Federation District Organization (Svensk Turkiska Distriktsorganisationen)
Stockholm Turkish Family Association (Stockholms Turkiska Familjeföreningen-STFF) and Turkish Youth Federation (Turkiska Ungdomarnas Riksförbund).)
On September 5, 2024, a seminar titled Readmission Deal between Turkey and the European Union, delivered at CRS. Gratitude is extended to Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon, Director of CRS, for her support in organizing the seminar, and for hosting the visit.
The visit also facilitated meaningful exchanges with experts in migration studies and participation in various seminars, including an open lecture by Ayelet Shachar, which offered valuable perspectives on migration, return, and border policies.
Key findings from the fieldwork highlighted the long-standing integration of the Turkish migrant community in Sweden, contrasted with emerging challenges linked to recent anti-immigrant policies. The interviewees provided valuable insights into the key challenges facing migrants and the return policy in Sweden. These issues are illustrated by the following two quotes from the interviews:
Currently, Sweden faces a significant gang issue, which can largely be attributed to a sense of alienation among certain migrant groups. It can be said that this is based on the problem of belonging. Many migrants who do not feel a sense of belonging turn to these gangs as a means of finding community.
Refoulement is not a feasible policy. The idea of paying for their return to Damascus for example, simply isn’t realistic. This would never happen in Sweden. Politicians will tell their constituents that efforts were made to send them back. Even if these efforts fail they will claim that they tried, but the people chose not to leave.
This short-term mission made significant contributions to the GAPs project and set the groundwork for ongoing research for a journal article and a paper to be presented at the final COREnet conference in 2025. These outputs will further explore the issues of migrant resilience and return policies in Europe.
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