Anti-Syrian Riots Erupt in Turkiye Amid Rising Racial Tensions

Marrakech – Angry mobs attacked Syrian-owned businesses and property in central Turkey over the past several days, leading to hundreds of arrests and sparking retaliatory protests in opposition-held areas of Syria.

The riots reflect escalating anti-refugee sentiment in Turkiye, which is home to the world’s largest refugee population.

The unrest began Sunday night in the Melikgazi district of the Kayseri province. According to international media reports, Turkish residents overturned cars and set fire to Syrian-run shops after reports circulated online that a Syrian man had allegedly sexually abused a 7-year-old Syrian girl. The violence spread to other areas including Hatay province in the south.

In total, Turkish authorities have detained 474 people suspected of involvement in the attacks, which damaged Syrian homes, businesses and vehicles.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the riots, blaming opposition parties for stoking racial hatred. “Nothing can be achieved by fueling xenophobia and hatred of refugees in society,” he said.

Over the past decade, Turkiye have welcomed hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing civil war, now hosting 3.6 million refugees from the conflict-torn country. However, anti-refugee attitudes have been on the rise amid economic difficulties. In this context, opposition leaders have called for repatriating Syrians.

The recent riots sparked counter-protests in Syrian opposition-held areas bordering Turkiye. Demonstrators attempted to block Turkish vehicles from entering, with clashes reported between protesters and Turkish security forces.

A resident of Turkiye since 2019 told Morocco World News (MWN) that the racism targets all Arabic speakers, regardless of nationality. “The Turks believe that if you speak Arabic then you are harmful and taking their jobs and damaging their economy,” he said. “No one was spared their brutality, no matter if you are just a tourist, foreign student or investor.”

The same source added that while the latest violence occurred in Kayseri, Turks on social media are calling for similar actions nationwide as tensions continue to grow. “They are confusing all Arabs with Syrians,” he said of the attacks.

The riots show the precarious status of refugees in Turkiye and the potential for anti-immigrant sentiment to boil over into unrest. The government has vowed to restore order but it remains to be seen if it can stem the rising tide of xenophobia and racism against Syrians and Arabs more broadly.