İZMİR - Konak Refugee Assembly President Mete Hüsünbeyi, drawing attention to the fact that some municipalities are committing hate crimes against the refugees, reminded that those who lost their lives trying to get to Europe are all of our responsibility.
As a result of 8 years of ongoing war in Syria, everyday another violation of rights is being added to the list regarding the Syrian refugees seeking refuge in Turkey. In recent weeks, in the town of Gazipaşa in Antalya, decisions taken by the city council, such as the prohibition of Syrians from entering the beaches in Gazipaşa were taken which incites discrimination.
After the refugee deaths in İzmir and Muğla in the last days, the previous day another death took place off the coast of Bodrum. While 31 people were rescued on the boat carrying the refugees, 12 people were killed. Izmir Konak Refugee Assembly President Mete Hüsünbeyi, who evaluated the issues of discrimination, racist rhetoric and the loss of life while trying to pass to European countries, stated that they attach importance to mutual integration with the refugees and continued to work especially in the field of women and children.
Hüsünbeyi who emphasized that immigration is not a favour but a right, said: "The prohibition of entering the beach for refugees in coastal municipalities is a fundamental human rights violation. It is not acceptable to state that this was done in the name of ‘freedom ' as explained by the Mayor. Our only consolation is that these municipalities had to step back as a result of the reactions. In addition, such discourses and practices pave the way for lynch against refugees and thus include hate crimes ”