Violence and unrest erupted in the central province of Kayseri in early July, with anti-Syrian sentiment fueling riots and attacks on Syrian-owned shops. The violence was triggered by accusations of a Syrian man sexually abusing a young girl in the city. Turkish authorities arrested 470 people in connection to the violence and a 14-year-old who leaked personal details of over 3.5 million Syrians in Turkey. The tension extended to northern Syria, where protesters clashed with Turkish-backed forces and seven people were killed.
The violence comes amidst a potential shift in Turkish-Syrian relations, with President Erdogan signaling a willingness to normalize ties with the Assad government. Turkey, once a supporter of the Syrian opposition, has been hosting millions of Syrian refugees and engaging militarily in border areas. The change in stance is driven by concerns over the security situation in Syria and dissatisfaction with US support for the YPG.
While Erdogan’s government emphasizes a policy of normalization and peace, experts warn that cooperation with Assad may not lead to the return of refugees or a solution to the conflict. Many Syrians feel increasingly unsafe in Turkey due to rising anti-Syrian sentiment, leaving the Turkish government facing a delicate balancing act. As Erdogan considers a potential agreement with Syria, the complexities and disagreements between the two nations remain significant, making the success of talks uncertain.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
