January 12, 2019

What can we infer from the increasing anti-migrant, and more specifically, anti-Syrian sentiments in Turkey? What does the “we don’t want” reaction we see every day in newspaper columns, social media, TV, interviews, on the street, and in every bit of everyday life tell us? What does it mean to belittle, scold and attack those who talk about human rights and human dignity and those who draw attention to the risks of anti-migrant discourses? On the other hand, is it sufficient to speak of “false facts” about migrants and assert that “there is no hierarchy between rights”; is repeatedly asserting these effective to eliminate discrimination, racism, and marginalization?

This essay was published on Gazete Duvar on January 12, 2019. You can find the full text in Turkish here: https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/gundem/2019/01/12/barbarlik-kosullari-altinda-medeni-olani-savunmak-tek-derdimiz-gocmenler-mi/