Agencies: The decision to allow Iraqi citizens to enter Turkey without a visa has come into effect after sparking widespread debate in Turkish political circles.
According to the presidential decree published in the Official Gazette, Iraqis under the age of 15 or over the age of 50 are allowed to enter Turkey for tourism purposes or transit permits without the need for a visa, for a stay of up to 90 days within every 180 days, starting from September 1.
The decision came after Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein visited Turkey and signed a “memorandum of understanding on military and security cooperation and counter-terrorism” between the two countries. Despite the security and economic goals of the agreement, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from some Turkish politicians and journalists.
On the other hand, journalist Fatih Altayli criticized the decision in an article titled “Necessity or Treason,” pointing out the need to provide a clear justification to Turkish public opinion about the feasibility of this agreement.
He considered that the decision could lead to further “occupation” of Turkey by foreigners, stressing that the lack of a real need for such a move could be considered “treason.”
It is noteworthy that Iraqi citizens currently rank first among foreigners who own real estate in Turkey, which increases the sensitivity of the decision in light of the internal political and economic discussions.
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