From Kayseri to Northern Syria, a conspiracy is on the making?

Ultranationalists had their day yesterday in Kayseri as the riots approached a pogrom level against Syrian refugees. I understand why many citizens are already tense with the growing refugee crisis, but some political agitators have their own agenda- as usual. In the meantime, anti-Syrian sentiments may increase more with the incidents in Northern Syria: Some Turkey-backed Syrian groups were allegedly involved in protesting the Kayseri incident violently and I see that Türkiye closed the border temporarily.

Curated by Perplexity: 

Incident in Kayseri, Turkey

On June 30, 2024, unrest erupted in Kayseri, a city in central Anatolia, following allegations that a 7-year-old child had been sexually abused by a Syrian national. The incident took place in the Eskişehir Bağları district, an area with a significant Syrian refugee population. The news triggered violent protests, with demonstrators targeting Syrian-owned homes and businesses. Several buildings were set on fire, and clashes with police ensued, resulting in numerous arrests and injuries[1][2][3].

The local governor announced that the child and her family had been placed under protection, and the suspect had been arrested. Politicians from various parties condemned the incident, with some calling for the mass deportation of Syrian refugees. The incident has further fueled anti-refugee sentiments in Turkey, where the presence of approximately 3.7 million Syrian refugees has been a contentious issue for years[1][4].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKD-szo7qhU&t=2s&ab_channel=TrimFeed

Incident in Northern Syria

In northern Syria, tensions have been rising due to ongoing violence and humanitarian crises. Recently, Turkey closed its borders in response to violent protests in opposition-held areas of northern Syria. These protests were partly fueled by the incident in Kayseri and the broader anti-refugee sentiments in Turkey. Demonstrators in Syrian towns like al-Rai and al-Bab blocked Turkish convoys and attacked Turkish facilities, reflecting their frustration with Turkey’s policies and the deteriorating humanitarian situation[5].

The border closure has exacerbated the already dire conditions in northern Syria, where millions of people live in poverty and rely on humanitarian aid. The Bab al-Hawa border crossing, a critical route for aid delivery, had been temporarily closed but was reopened following a deal with the Syrian government. This reopening is crucial for delivering much-needed assistance to the region, which has been devastated by years of conflict, economic collapse, and recent earthquakes[6][7][8].

Citations:
[1] https://medyascope.tv/2024/07/01/syrian-homes-businesses-in-kayseri-attacked-following-child-abuse-allegations/
[2] https://bianet.org/haber/violent-protests-target-refugee-community-in-turkeys-kayseri-after-alleged-sexual-assault-on-child-297002
[3] https://www.turkiyetoday.com/turkiye/violence-erupts-in-kayseri-after-child-abuse-by-syrian-national-25276/
[4] https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/riots-break-out-after-alleged-harassment-of-child-in-central-turkiye/news
[5] https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkeys-president-accuses-opposition-stoking-racism-after-anti-111575051
[6] https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2023/07/25/heavy-toll-violence-Syria-Turkiye-border
[7] https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/un-deal-reached-syria-reopen-main-border-crossing-turkiye
[8] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/26/cancer-patients-head-for-turkey-after-border-closure-protests-in-nw-syria