They survived war and an earthquake. Turkey's Syrian refugees now face a new menace: Resentment
KILIS, Turkey — It was on the third day after the devastating earthquake demolished his home and almost killed him and his family that Basel, a 31-year-old Syrian refugee living in Turkey, was able to find an empty plot of land to pitch a tent as a temporary shelter for his family.
But the respite didn't last.
"Turkish people in the area came and told us they didn't want us here — that we were to blame for the earthquake and that we weren't welcome to stay," said Basel, who gave only his first name to avoid harassment. "They started breaking up the tent, shouting at us until we left."
He and his family were the victims of a growing wave of resentment against the more than 3.6 million Syrians who have fled their homeland during its and settled
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days