As a result of the ongoing anti-immigrant and anti-refugee statements and information pollution, we witnessed lynching, looting and attacks in Ankara Altındağ on the night of August 11, 2021. After the tragic loss of the young man named Emirhan Yalçın, one of the two people injured as a result of the fight between the two groups in Altındağ district of Ankara, the attacks of the Syrians' homes and workplaces in the district by rapidly organized groups showed that the anti-refugee opposition provoked by influential but irresponsible people could reach unavoidable dimensions. These lynchings and attacks should also serve as a lesson to us in terms of showing us the point where hate crimes, exclusionary expressions and practices against immigrants can reach, using the difficulties brought by the pandemic process, security concerns, uncertainties caused by the economic crisis, and long-standing political and social tensions.
Migration is an integral part of today's world, as it has been repeated over and over on different occasions. Migration does not always have to be experienced as a problem. It is also possible that the new and various situations that emerged with migration will enable the change and development of societies. This is determined by the immigration policies and migration managements of the receiving countries.
Migration and asylum processes are caused by global/regional problems. Incomplete or incorrect migration policies and migration management in the countries to which people who have lost the safety of life and property in their own country or who migrate, take refuge and asylum in order to establish new lives in other countries instead of continuing their lives in their own countries for various reasons, may cause immigrants and citizens to encounter new difficulties. . Ensuring that these difficulties are overcome is one of the main duties of governments, not of immigrants or citizens.
The marginalization and targeting of immigrants and refugees who have had to take refuge in Turkey and who experience the most severe exploitation and violence in their daily lives is unacceptable. Directing the criticisms regarding the lack of a permanent and sustainable integration and migration policy to the immigrants and refugees who are victims in all these processes will only deepen the situation. It is one of the most severe blows to the quality of being a society that the crowds, who have lost their will to express their real problems and to demand their solution, directed their anger towards immigrants and refugees, who are one of the weakest parts of the society.
As non-governmental organizations working in the field of migration, migration research centers and institutions that produce information, words and actions in the field of migration, we invite all parties to stay away from hate speech and to discuss the issue calmly without falling into the trap of discrimination and racism. At the same time, we believe that the public should be informed openly and transparently about the policies implemented regarding immigration, and that uncertainties and arbitrary approaches that have become a threat to immigrants and refugees should be abandoned. In addition, hate speech and discriminatory language that brings the tension in the society to an uncontrollable point must be ended immediately.
Finally, each state has to comply with the international legal rules and basic human rights principles under which it is a signatory, while implementing its own immigration policies. Considering the global dimension of the issue, we invite the member states of the European Union to urgently fulfill their responsibilities regarding irregular migration and asylum. We remind that the member states of the European Union should take more initiative and responsibility for the implementation of an equal, fair, effective and sustainable migration policy, instead of instrumentalizing the countries such as Turkey, to which intense migration movements are headed, in order to prevent migration to their own borders by only supporting them with economic aid.
Afghan Refugees Solidarity and Assistance Association (ARSA)
Ankara Yildirim Beyazit Univ. (AYBU) Migration Policies App. and Res. Center, GPM
Bahcesehir Univ. Center for Migration and Urban Studies, BAUMUS
Information Univ. Migration Studies App. and Res. Central
Migration Research Association, GAR
Migration Research Foundation, GAV
Migrant Solidarity Network/Ankara
Migrant Solidarity Association
Support to Life Association
Center for Asylum and Migration Studies, IGAM
Human Rights Agenda Association
Association for Solidarity with Syrian Refugees in Izmir
Kirkayak Culture, Art and Nature Association
Maya Education Culture Research Assistance and Solidarity Association
Media and Migration Association
Association for Solidarity with Refugees, Mülteci-Der
Koç Univ. Migration Studies App. and Res. Center, MİREKOÇ
Multeci.net
Social Workers Association (SHUDER) Ankara Branch