2024 anti-refugee riots in Turkey
| 2024 Kayseri Riots | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | June 30, 2024 | |||
| Location | Kayseri, Turkey | |||
| Caused by | Syrian refugee accused of sex offense against young girl. | |||
| Parties | ||||
| ||||
| Casualties | ||||
| Injuries | 15 | |||
| Detained | 67 | |||
On June 30, 2024, riots erupted in Kayseri, Turkey against Syrian migrants.
Background
Turkey has the most refugees of any country n the world. The largest population is the Syrian refugees, with more than 3.6 million registered refugees, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the country. Kayseri itself has around 83,000. There is a far amount of xenophobia against the Syrians, with a 2024 survey by the UNCHR finding that 77% of respondents in Turkey supported closing the border to refugees, the highest in the world[1]
Events
After reports that a Syrian refugee had molested a 7 year old girl, (later revealed to be his own cousin) spread on social media, the city of Kayseri erupted into violence. [2]
Dozens of workplaces and vehicles of Syrians were burnt. 14 police officers and 1 firefighter were among those injured in the riots.[3]
Reactions
The police chief of Kayseri, said about the incident “I assure you that every legal action, including deportation, will be taken against this individual and his family.” The Ministry of Family and Social Services said in an official statement that, “The child victim, their siblings and her mother have been placed under state protection following the necessary procedures at the police station. Our expert teams have initiated psychosocial support for the child and their family. We at the Ministry will actively follow the judicial process to ensure the perpetrator receives the maximum penalty.”[4]
In response to the riots, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the violence saying "“Nothing can be achieved by fueling xenophobia and hatred of refugees in society". He also blamed the opposition for fueling xenophobia.[5]
The riots ended up fueling violence in Northern Aleppo in Syria itself, where protestors attacked Turkish military bases and took down Turkish flags.
References
- ^ "Violent protests target refugee community in Turkey's Kayseri after alleged sexual assault on child". bianet.org. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Sariyuce, Scott McLean, Isil (2024-07-01). "Turkish officials call for calm as social media hysteria fuels anti-Syrian riots". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Saya, Bapak (2024-07-01). "Pogrom erupts in Kayseri: Syrian-owned shops torched amid child abuse allegations". Medya News. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Saya, Bapak (2024-07-01). "Pogrom erupts in Kayseri: Syrian-owned shops torched amid child abuse allegations". Medya News. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Staff, The Media Line (2024-07-01). "Turkey's Erdogan Blames Political Opposition for Anti-Syrian Riots". The Media Line. Retrieved 2024-07-02.