14.11.2025 08:11
Rasim Mert, a 35-year-old son of a family that migrated from Bulgaria to Turkey, has still not been able to obtain citizenship because his maternal lineage could not be proven. Despite being born in Turkey, Mert continues to live without an identity. He stated that he has his birth certificate and diplomas, saying, "First of all, I want to serve in the military because that has been my biggest dream. After that, I want to work in a job with social security."
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Despite being born in Turkey, Rasim Mert, who has been forced to live without identity for 35 years due to the inability to establish a blood relation with his mother and not being able to obtain citizenship, is fighting a legal battle. Rasim's biggest dream is to gain his identity, join the Turkish army, officially serve this country, and benefit from citizenship rights.
35 YEARS WITHOUT CITIZENSHIP
Rasim Mert, the son of a Turkish family who migrated from Bulgaria to Turkey in 1989, was born in Turkey and has lived on this land for 35 years but could not obtain citizenship because he could not prove his blood relation with his mother. Despite having a birth certificate, diploma, and official documents, Rasim, who cannot get an identity card, is trying to make his voice heard by saying, "I am a person of this country, I want to get my identity and serve in the military."
MIGRATION STORY FROM BULGARIA TO TURKEY
One of the Turkish families fleeing the assimilation policies implemented in Bulgaria in 1989 was Rasim Mert's parents. The family that migrated to Turkey first settled in Bursa. Rasim, born in Bursa in 1990, spent his childhood years there. However, the bureaucratic delays experienced during the family's immigration process profoundly affected his life. After the death of his father Mert, mother and son moved to Izmir. Rasim was enrolled in school with his birth certificate and successfully completed primary and secondary school. However, every application he made to obtain an identity after reaching adulthood was unsuccessful due to the lack of blood relation determination.
"I WAS BORN IN TURKEY BUT I AM BEING IGNORED"
Rasim Mert, who has been living without identity for 35 years, shares the difficulties he faces, saying, "My parents are Bulgarian immigrants. They came in 1989, and I was born in Bursa in 1990. They were able to obtain their identities only after I turned 18. I have applied many times with various official documents like my birth certificate, diploma, and school records, but I have not received a positive response from any institution. I was born in the Republic of Turkey, I lived on this land. My family, siblings, and relatives are all citizens. I also want to gain my identity," he said.
"HIS BIGGEST DREAM IS TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY"
Rasim Mert, who states that his biggest dream is to join the Turkish army and serve, says, "First of all, I want to serve in the military. Because this was my biggest dream. After that, I want to work in a job with social security, benefit from health services, and organize my life like every Turkish young person. I have lived as a person of this country for 35 years, but I am officially being ignored," he said.
DIPLOMA EXISTS, IDENTITY DOES NOT
Despite having a birth certificate issued by the Republic of Turkey, a school diploma, and various official documents, Rasim Mert cannot obtain an identity card due to the lack of blood relation. Rasim, who has been repeatedly turned away from government offices on the grounds of 'missing documents', expressed his despair by saying, "They told me, 'You do not exist.' But I was born and raised in this country. I went to school, spoke Turkish, and lived under this flag. How much more do I need to prove?"
Growing up with the dream of serving in the military, Rasim also states that being without identity is not only a bureaucratic burden but also an emotional one. "My biggest wish is to join the Turkish army. I love this homeland very much. It is impossible for me to be recruited without my identity, but if I gain my identity one day, my first job will be to fulfill my military duty," he said.
"THE BLOOD RELATION DETERMINATION CASE WILL SET A PRECEDENT"
Rasim Mert's lawyer, Berivan Şevval Oktay, stated, "The reason my client cannot obtain an identity is that he cannot prove his blood relation with his mother. Therefore, we filed a blood relation determination case in the Family Court. The court's decision will facilitate the registration process in his mother's name. Then we will apply for Turkish citizenship," she said. Oktay noted that the case is a rare legal situation in Turkey, stating, "This file will set a precedent in Turkish law. Because my client, despite being born, educated, and living within the borders of the Republic of Turkey, has been deprived of citizenship rights. He cannot benefit from basic rights such as health, education, and social security because he does not have an identity. Our goal is to ensure my client's legal existence," she expressed.
If the court determines the blood relation, Rasim Mert will be registered under his mother's name, and then an official application for Turkish citizenship will be made.
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