Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkey’s ruling Islamist-nationalist coalition recently said that “We are trying to send migrants by their own will. ”
Erdogan’s statement came amid rising hostile environment towards migrants in Turkey in recent times.
Public misery due to the soaring living economic conditions accompanied by social polarisation has made the hostility more dangerous then ever.
Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) anti-refugee campaign promising to “send them home” if they gain power is another determinant factor which has increased the hostility towards refugees.
Ercument Akdeniz, chair of Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP) said in an online discussion – broadcast on Thursday via Twitter Spaces- that the tension is very high and the country is on the brink of massive attacks towards migrants.
Akdeniz said that it is important to defend the unity of the migrant workers and to build a joint struggle.
“It is not possible to compete with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the basis of hostility to refugees. With this oppressive authoritarian understanding, no one can gain anything by competing over hostility to immigrants.” said Akdeniz and urged the main opposition to change their discourse regarding the migrants.
Akdeniz also warned about an ongoing preparation of sending scores of migrants abroad before the general elections:
“Such an operation would not be a surprise when AKP is most comfortable. It will also create an environment in which the opposition could be weaken and get out of the place where it is assumed to gather votes.”
