İSTANBUL - Underlining that the racism against the refugees and the Kurds feeds from the same roots, HDK Migration and Refugees Council Member Yusuf Ak emphasized the importance of solidarity and organization against racism.

 

The racist discourse and discriminary practices against the refugees and immigrants in Turkey flared yo again with the migration wave caused by the civil war in Afghanistan. The hostility against refugees and immigrants fueled by marginalizing policies against the Kurds is provoked by some of the opposition parties as well as the government. In addition, the refugees and immigrants who are used as cheap labour and a bargaining chip against Europe are frequently targeted by the government, opposition parties and pro-government media.

 

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Immigration and Refugees Council member and People's Bridge Association General Secretary Yusuf Ak told that the racism against Kurds and refugees feeds from the same roots.

 

ALL TRACES OF MANY PEOPLES ERASED FROM HISTORY IN TURKEY 

 

Stating that the traces of many peoples like Kurds, Lazkis and Armenian were erased from Anatolia since the establishment of the republic, Ak told that even the names of the villages of these peoples were replaced with Turkish names. Underlining that the peoples of Turkey have been defined by a single identity, Ak said that the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians who had been living in these lands for centuries were deported.

 

THE SAME ROOT

 

Underlining that the racism against the refugees and Kurds feeds from the same roots, Ak said: "Unfortunately, the nation-state system established around the Turkish supra-identity does not allow other identities to exist with their own individuality. When peoples resist against the assimilation, they face exile."

 

Ak told that the discourses of the opposition parties such as 'We are losing our homeland' and 'Our troops are dying in Syria' are fueling the anti-refugee sentiment.

 

KURDISH QUESTION

 

Stressing that unless Turkey faces with the reality of the Kurds, the hatred against the refugees will increase, Ak said: "We saw during the peace process that when the reality of the Kurds was acknowladged, it created a peace environment and people started to speak in their mother tongues. But with the termination of the process unilaterally, we all experience the effects of these security policies." 

 

THE EFFECT OF NOT HAVING A STATUS

 

Emphasizing that not having a status would affect the lives of the refugees in a negative way, AK emphasized that the Temporary Protection Status should be abolished and said: “The geographical border annotation should be abolished, asylum seekers and refugees without an identity should be given refugee status. A safe environment should be provided. Refugees should not be condemned to one language under the name of social cohesion and unilateral integration. A platform should be created where they can receive education in their own language and live their own culture freely. Otherwise nationalism and nation-state system will be more widely discussed."

 

THE NEED TO ORGANIZE

 

Noting that as the parliament, they are constantly discussing the development of human rights policies on refugees, Ak said, “We need to unite, build networks of solidarity and organize against chronic chauvinism, exploitation, patriarchy and marginalizing of the peoples. As the HDK we will continue to work for an equal, free, exploitation-free life based on the idea that this world is the common homeland of all of us."

 

MA / Kadir Güney'