MERSIN - Stating that the politics made over anti-refugee turned into racism, Maya Association President Volkan Gültekin said: "The right to life of refugees should be guaranteed."

 

The United Nations (UN) declared June 20 as “World Refugee Day” in 2001. In the 23 years since it was announced in order to raise awareness and develop empathy for people who had to flee due to war, conflict and persecution, discrimination against refugees continues with racism. According to the data of the Refugees Association; As of May 17, 2023, the number of Syrians under temporary protection status registered in Turkey was 3 million 381 thousand 429 people. Accordingly, the number of registered Syrians has decreased by 154,569 since the beginning of the year.

 

According to the data of the Refugees Association, 236 thousand 525 refugees live in Mersin, according to unofficial data, 350 thousand people live. Refugees working in citrus, orchards, textile workshops and construction works in Mersin are seen as cheap labor and are employed in an insecure manner. While Syrian refugee children living in tents in areas far from the city center stay away from education, women do not see any place other than tents. Especially in the last election period, Syrian refugees, who were bargained by political parties, became the target of social hate speech and racist attacks.

 

Maya Association President Volkan Gültekin evaluated the increasing racist discourse during the election period and the problems faced by refugees living in Mersin on June 20 World Refugee Day.

 

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

 

Stating that they provided psychosocial support especially to refugee women and children at the Maya Association, which was established in 2017, Gültekin said: "We carry out studies to enable refugees to participate in the city and to improve education and health opportunities. The problems of Syrian refugees living in Mersin vary. It is necessary to divide the process of problems. While some of the problems of refugees such as shelter, nutrition and job opportunities were solved when they first arrived, this problem has now become a problem of increasing racism and hate speech with the recent political climate and election process. While some language problems continue in terms of health and education, the municipality is still insufficient in terms of translators and similar support. The east and west of the city are sharply separated both economically and socially. Refugees in the east of the city are working more in daily citrus orchards, construction and textiles, while those staying in the west are more middle-class refugees engaged in trade and trades."

 

'FUNDS WERE NOT USED FOR REFUGEES'

 

Stating that they are lacking in seeking rights due to the fact that refugees do not know their rights, Gültekin said: “A group is not responsible for the problems arising in the increasing population, education and health, but the political power is the place where they are responsible. Refugees are blamed instead of criticizing the immigration policies of the government or seeking our rights. Immigrants are the weakest link. There are actually billions of appropriations in Turkey's agreements with the EU, but none of them have been used in a way that befits the rights and dignity of refugees. The funds were not used for refugees.This readmission agreement did not go beyond the AKP government's bargain with Europe. The European Union is called an institution where democracy, human rights and freedoms will be protected, but they put the lives of refugees at risk with the decisions they have taken. Just recently, 72 people, 10 of whom were children, lost their lives as a result of the sinking of the boat. These political crises continue to die and kill."

 

ANTI-REFUGEE POLICY

 

Reminding the election campaigns carried out over the anti-refugee campaign during the election period, Gültekin said: “Refugees are exposed to the political discourse of both sides, between those who are against them and not against them but it was the immigrants who were oppressed among them. These racist rhetoric, increased by the Victory Party, spread to the society at once. Unfortunately, the people above determine the social life and fool the people. After the election, hate speech has decreased, and the Victory Party and its derivatives unfortunately developed a policy based on anti-immigration in order to consolidate their bargaining and standing before the election. The party tried to market it to other political parties through the policy it developed and was successful. Although the Nation Alliance said that they stood by their rights and freedoms, they became a tool in these dirty bargains. And as a result, they started using the same hate language. There is no legal equivalent to a discourse that says 'we will send immigrants'."

 

MA / Dilan Akyol