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Transcript/ScriptFOR USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Turkey Syria Refugees (TV)
HEADLINE: Facing Public Backlash, Erdogan Pledges Mass Return of Syrians
TEASER: Turkey’s leader promises to return one million Syrians, a move that could become an election liability.
PUBLISHED AT: 05/26/2022 3:17 pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Istanbul
VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas DO NOT USE FOR SECURITY REASONS,
PRODUCER: Rob Raffaele
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, AFP, Skype (Other – see courtesies for Turkish Presidency, Istanbul Governor's Office, People’s Republican Party)
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:18
VID APPROVED BY: BR
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS
))
((INTRO))
[[Turkey‘s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pledging to return as many as one million Syrians amid growing public animosity against the refugees. Their presence is a potential political liability for Erdogan but as Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, his plan for the refugees’ repatriation is already drawing criticism.]]
((NARRATOR))
An estimated four million Syrian refugees are in Turkey now, having fled the long-running conflict in their country.
((Mandatory courtesy: Turkish Presidency))
Now, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his government will return a million refugees to Syria voluntarily, with promises to build a hundred thousand homes, which he says offers them a chance of a new life.
The Syrians would return to an area under the control of the Turkish military and Syrian rebels, outside the grasp of Damascus' forces. But refugee groups warn there is little security anywhere in Syria.
[[RADIO VERSION: Haya Atassi is with the Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity, a group that advocates for refugees in Turkey.]]
((Haya Atassi, Syrian Association for Citizens' Dignity (female in English))
((Mandatory cg: Skype))
“We have arbitrary detentions, we have forced disappearances, and we have unlawful killings. We have a lack of security in general. When there are assassinations when people leaving their houses not knowing if they can ever come back, and this is something that is repeated everywhere in Syria, regardless of who is the party that’s in control.”
((NARRATOR))
Erdogan is under pressure to start returning the millions of refugees in Turkey, given what pollsters suggest is growing public animosity.
[[Radio Version: Can Selcuki is with Istanbul Economics Research]]
((Can Selçuki, Istanbul Economics Research (MALE IN ENGLISH))
“The 61% that agrees or definitely agrees with the fact that a more tougher stance should be taken towards Syrian refugees stems directly from the negative news that we are seeing that connects Syrian refugees with crime. And on the back of this economic downturn, I think the Syrian refugees, or refugee issue, becomes a more heated issue where emotions tend to get out of hand.”
((NARRATOR))
Last year angry mobs attacked a district in the capital, Ankara, where many Syrian refugees live.
((Mandatory courtesy CHP -Republican Peoples Party))
A video depicting a dystopian Turkey where Arabs run the country has gone viral. Social media is awash with anti-refugee sentiments.
Ahead of next year's presidential elections, most opposition parties are calling for the return of refugees.
[[RADIO VERSION: Didem Danis with the Association for Migration Research in Turkey says the issue has become a top political issue ahead of presidential elections next year.]]
((Didem Danis, Association for Migration Research, (female in English)
“It will be certainly one of the main issues in the political campaigns for the elections. And this is one of the weakest points of the government, together with the economic crisis, of course. But the opposition parties will use it a lot.”
((Mandatory courtesy- Istanbul Governor))
((NARRATOR))
Turkish security forces are now routinely rounding up and deporting those they claim are illegal migrants. At the same time, refugees face increasing restrictions to encourage them to return to Syria.
But some analysts warn such pressure could lead to another refugee exodus to Europe.
[[RADIO VERSION: Omar Kadkoy is with the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey.]]
((Omar Kadkoy, Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey ((male in English))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“If they feel that they are left between a rock and hard place, and especially knowing that they do not want to go back to Syria, moving westward might be the only option available for Syrians to live in a place where they can actually have some sort of prosperity and safety.”
((COURTESY: Turkish Coast Guard))
((NARRATOR))
With millions of Syrians trapped in what is becoming a toxic political atmosphere in Turkey as elections approach, many see the lure of Europe – where their welcome is not guaranteed - as possibly their only way out.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 26, 2022 15:22 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
