It is reported that 16 workers from the Kurdish region of Mardin Mazidagi, who went to Western Sakarya as hazelnut pickers were attacked by their employers and villagers. The workers had to return to Mardin after the attack.
One of the victims of the attack, Baris Demir, said that they did not have any issues with their employer before the attack but that when they were going to work in the morning their employer called them “a pack of dogs” and in after this they left the garden.
When they were leaving the employer threatened them and said “do you think this is your home? This is ours” and then Baris says “they attacked us. 8 people with sticks attacked 3 people”. After the attack the seasonal workers returned to Mardin.
Many Kurdish and Syrian workers come to the west of Turkey as seasonal workers despite the low pay and they often face racism. These workers are treated with contempt and such racist attacks are increasing.
