Syrian Coalition: Syrian Coalition Views Protests against Hosting Syrian Refugees as Limited Minority Response in Turkey

Badr Jamous, member of the political committee, said that the protests that were held in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş against hosting the Syrian refugees “do not reflect the real stance of the Turkish people towards their Syrian brethren. The real stance of the Turkish people is reflected in the substantial material and moral support provided by our brothers in Turkey to the Syrian people. An example of this is the simple fairs organized by ordinary Turks who donate the revenues to help the Syrian refugees. Such protests are limited and were individually motivated.” Jamous also calls on the Syrians who are residing in Turkish cities and towns to abide by the law and respect the traditions and customs of their host communities. Commenting on some of the abuses carried out by the Syrian refugees in some cases, Jamous said that “this is unacceptable, but it is natural to some extent, as the Syrians who are living in Turkish cities and towns have become a community in itself, so it is natural to record some abuses and offences. However, this does not reflect the true culture of the Syrians as a whole, but rather reflects the behavior of a certain segment of the components present within any society in the world.” In a similar vein, Safda Bayazid, MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said that the protests were provoked by a specific group,” pointing to the timing of these protests which were meant to preceded Turkey’s presidential election. “I do not think that the population of Kahramanmaraş think this way toward their brothers who are under oppression, and I think that there is something behind these events.” Sidky Govanc MP of the AKP, calls on the citizens of Kahramanmaraş “to act wisely and rationally. If offences were committed by our Syrian brothers, the government will respond and take the necessary procedures. No one should distort the image of Kahramanmaraş.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)