Turkey imposes bias ban on Somalia, 9 other countries

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament in Ankara

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, October 25, 2023. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Source: X80001

The Turkish government has adopted a strict law that prevents irregular transit passengers at Istanbul Airport travelling to Mexico, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela.

The move, according to local news platform Radio Risaala is aimed at reducing the inflow of irregular migrants from these countries into US.

Citizens of other countries including Somalia, Yemen, Chad, Cameroon, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Afghanistan, India, and Nepal who transit through Istanbul Airport will be required to have an Electronic Transit Visa.

Turkey’s Ministery of Foreign Affairs has also finalized all the necessary preparations for the issuance of the Electronic Application for Airport Transit Visa (e-HTV).

According to Radio Risaala, this will help with the application of the Transit Visa Law.

The law is scheduled to take effect on April 15.

Wonder Hagan