UID President Aslan invites Turks living in Germany to become dual citizens

Kenan Aslan, President of the Union of International Democrats (UID), drew attention to the importance of the dual citizenship law passed by the federal parliament in Germany and expected to be enacted in the coming months, and invited Turks living in the country to become dual citizens.

Aslan, who was elected president at the UID 8th Ordinary General Assembly held in Langelfeld on 20 January, made statements to AA correspondent at the Union's Headquarters in Cologne.

Underlining that the Germany-based UID is a non-governmental organisation operating in 55 centres around the world, Aslan said, "As before, we will strive to meet the needs of the Turkish diaspora by concentrating more in the coming period."

Aslan, who conveyed the issues that UID cares about in the new period, noted the following:

"The issue of foster families and the education of our youth are among the issues we will definitely address. We will project many issues such as political academies, culture and art activities, education in mother tongue in the coming period and we will spread them in our regions and branches. We will see together that this will contribute to our youth in the medium and long term. We will endeavour to create environments where our young brothers and sisters can receive education so that they can take more place in society, and to bring them to a consistency and quality where they can express themselves better in both business and social life.

Especially social participation will be one of the most important activities for us. As we all follow, the European Parliament (EP) elections will be organised in a few months. We will be working intensively especially on the participation of our young brothers and sisters here."

"Anti-racist demonstrations are very valuable"

Stating that they welcomed the fact that hundreds of thousands of people filled the squares on weekends to protest xenophobia and racism in Germany, Aslan said, "We see that the anti-racism shown by thousands of people flocking to the squares is very valuable. I think that this will increase even more in the coming processes and this situation in Germany will set an example for other countries. There is a perception that 'everyone living in Western societies is racist', but these gatherings and flocking to the squares show the opposite of this view. These demonstrations should continue."

The importance of the dual citizenship law

Emphasising that the dual citizenship law, which was passed by the federal parliament in Germany and will enter into force after it is published in the official gazette following the approval of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will have a positive effect especially on the Turkish community and other immigrant origins, Aslan stated that the fact that immigrants will be able to protect their own citizenship while obtaining German citizenship will also contribute to the harmony here.

Aslan, who invited Turks living in Germany to become dual citizens after the law entered into force, said:

"After dual citizenship is legalised, I strongly recommend that each and every one of our citizens should definitely, without fail, acquire German citizenship. Because if we do so, we will be able to actively participate in politics. In the coming period, in the medium and long term, our power here will be even more noticeable. If we naturalise and actively participate in politics, we can have a say here."

Source: AA