I need to know what the legal situation is regarding memberships of professional associations.

The case is a member of an association in Turkey leaves Turkey and lives abroad for 10 years, then returns to find the association wanting backdated membership fees for the period.

What are the laws on memberships? Can you expect that a membership should expire if you are not paying an annual fee, I.e mean cancellation of membership, or do they have the legal right to keep you as a member for 10 years without your knowledge and then claim fees when you return again?

Kind regards,

Tariq Isaksson