ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Violence broke out in a Syrian-populated area of Istanbul on June 29 after a Syrian boy was accused of verbally assaulting a Turkish girl, local media reports. The incident highlights festering inter-communal tensions in Turkey, which hosts millions of Syrian refugees.
A group of Turkish youths reportedly damaged several Arab businesses in the Syrian neighbourhood on Saturday night before police dispersed the crowd, arresting 18.
The 12-year-old Syrian boy, who Rudaw has not named to protect the identity of both minors, is alleged to have verbally assaulted a Turkish girl, also aged 12, earlier the same day. Local government officials denied a physical assault had taken place.
“Last night at 20:36 our ALO 155 hotline was informed of an alleged verbal sexual harassment against a child ... in Mehmet Aktid neighborhood in Kucukcekmece district [in Istanbul],” read a statement from the Istanbul mayor’s office on Sunday.
Both children were taken to a police station where the families concluded there had been a “misunderstanding”.
“The issue was sourced from a misunderstanding and no one lodged a lawsuit,” the statement added.
However, upon hearing the news of the alleged assault, a group of Turkish youths rushed to the police station to stage a protest. Videos shared on social media appear to show protesters attacking Arab shops in the area.
The mayor’s office said the crowd caused “loss to some workplaces and vehicles” before they were dispersed by police.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Istanbul Police Directorate confirmed both children were 12 years of age.
The Syrian boy told the other child “come, come” from window, the police statement said. “There was no physical contact, abuse, or rape.”
Eighteen protesters were arrested on Saturday night, but released without charge, the statement confirmed.
The city saw similar violence in February after a Syrian man was accused of harassing a Turkish woman. Turkish residents armed with knives and batons marched through the Esenyurt suburb chanting “This is Turkey, not Syria” and attacked Arab businesses.
The Turkish-language hashtag #suriyelileryalnızdeğildir (Syrians are not alone) trended on Twitter following the June 29 incident. People used the hashtag both to defend and criticize the Syrian presence.
One Twitter user made a religious appeal to Turks to help the Syrians refugees.
Another meanwhile said it was time for them to leave Turkey.
There are currently more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, according to UN figures.
The influx of refugees fleeing Syria’s eight-year civil war has placed a strain on neighbouring countries’ infrastructure and inter-communal relations.
Syrian refugee families face numerous challenges, including poverty, which worsened last year with Turkey’s economic woes. Children in particular are vulnerable to discrimination and a lack of educational opportunities, according to the UN.
A March 13 report from the Washington-based Center for American Progress said the return of most Syrian refugees from Turkey is unrealistic.
“While most Turks hope all the Syrians will eventually return to Syria, that prospect looks unrealistic; sizable numbers of Syrians are indeed likely to remain,” it said.
A Metropoll survey taken in September 2018 found 79 percent of Turks do not expect Syrians to return home after the war, and 77 percent say they are bracing for a new wave of refugees, presumably from the jihadist-held province of Idlib in Syria’s northwest, the center points out.
“As unhappy as Turks are about the Syrians’ presence, they may nevertheless be resigned to it,” the center added.
With reporting from Karwan Fadhi Dri and Adam Lucente
A group of Turkish youths reportedly damaged several Arab businesses in the Syrian neighbourhood on Saturday night before police dispersed the crowd, arresting 18.
The 12-year-old Syrian boy, who Rudaw has not named to protect the identity of both minors, is alleged to have verbally assaulted a Turkish girl, also aged 12, earlier the same day. Local government officials denied a physical assault had taken place.
“Last night at 20:36 our ALO 155 hotline was informed of an alleged verbal sexual harassment against a child ... in Mehmet Aktid neighborhood in Kucukcekmece district [in Istanbul],” read a statement from the Istanbul mayor’s office on Sunday.
Both children were taken to a police station where the families concluded there had been a “misunderstanding”.
“The issue was sourced from a misunderstanding and no one lodged a lawsuit,” the statement added.
However, upon hearing the news of the alleged assault, a group of Turkish youths rushed to the police station to stage a protest. Videos shared on social media appear to show protesters attacking Arab shops in the area.
The mayor’s office said the crowd caused “loss to some workplaces and vehicles” before they were dispersed by police.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Istanbul Police Directorate confirmed both children were 12 years of age.
The Syrian boy told the other child “come, come” from window, the police statement said. “There was no physical contact, abuse, or rape.”
Eighteen protesters were arrested on Saturday night, but released without charge, the statement confirmed.
The city saw similar violence in February after a Syrian man was accused of harassing a Turkish woman. Turkish residents armed with knives and batons marched through the Esenyurt suburb chanting “This is Turkey, not Syria” and attacked Arab businesses.
The Turkish-language hashtag #suriyelileryalnızdeğildir (Syrians are not alone) trended on Twitter following the June 29 incident. People used the hashtag both to defend and criticize the Syrian presence.
One Twitter user made a religious appeal to Turks to help the Syrians refugees.
Unfortunately, many Turks have forgotten religious guidelines which preach us to behave like ensar in Medine. I feel shame every time when I see a disrespectful deed against Syrians. Sorry muhajirs very sincerely! Ya Allah, open our eyes and minds! #suriyelileryalnızdeğildir
— kerim (@kerimniyaz01) June 30, 2019
Another meanwhile said it was time for them to leave Turkey.
İf they syrian supports the regime they can live in none-war zone of syria (south) or they will fight with regime but they can't support regime they must fight with free syrian army. This is not our problem and we've helped enough #suriyelileryalnızdeğildir pic.twitter.com/crKjqVCfik
— üçyüzaltmışvolt (@saratades) June 30, 2019
There are currently more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, according to UN figures.
The influx of refugees fleeing Syria’s eight-year civil war has placed a strain on neighbouring countries’ infrastructure and inter-communal relations.
Syrian refugee families face numerous challenges, including poverty, which worsened last year with Turkey’s economic woes. Children in particular are vulnerable to discrimination and a lack of educational opportunities, according to the UN.
A March 13 report from the Washington-based Center for American Progress said the return of most Syrian refugees from Turkey is unrealistic.
“While most Turks hope all the Syrians will eventually return to Syria, that prospect looks unrealistic; sizable numbers of Syrians are indeed likely to remain,” it said.
A Metropoll survey taken in September 2018 found 79 percent of Turks do not expect Syrians to return home after the war, and 77 percent say they are bracing for a new wave of refugees, presumably from the jihadist-held province of Idlib in Syria’s northwest, the center points out.
“As unhappy as Turks are about the Syrians’ presence, they may nevertheless be resigned to it,” the center added.
With reporting from Karwan Fadhi Dri and Adam Lucente
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