Xenophobia in Turkey: refugees unwelcome
Around three and a half million refugees, mostly from Syria and Afghanistan, are currently in Turkey. Many live in precarious conditions as a result of the country's fragmentary integration policy. In view of rising inflation and the economic crisis, the vast majority of political camps have adopted a harsher tone. Commentators criticise the rise of xenophobia.
Integration instead of populism
It is naive to believe that Syrian refugees in Turkey will return to their home country any time soon, Sabah writes:
“Many Syrians in Turkey come from big cities like Aleppo and currently have no chance of returning. Once you grasp that it is not up to Turkey to guarantee peace and stability in Syria, you will see that the issue of refugees will remain high on Turkey's agenda for some time to come. ... For these reasons we must not only make it possible for them to return, but also seek to integrate these people into society, regardless of whether they are likely to leave or stay. Otherwise we will hear nothing but empty populist promises. ”
True Muslims want to share
The refugees are the Turks' brothers in faith and must not be targets of racism, the Islamic paper Yeni Akit demands:
“A Muslim must be reasonable. Because one of the greatest blessings Allah has given humans is reason. ... Therefore we should not, like those who lack all reason, let ourselves be goaded by racists and jump on their bandwagon. We Turks are a society of heroes of Islam. ... We are the grandchildren of ancestors who consider the Islamic faith and Muslims more sacred than their own lives. For us it is an honour to share our food and our belongings with other Muslims. After all, it is Allah who gives us our daily bread.”