Syrian war changes Turkish border towns
In Turkey's Hatay province, Islamic State militants have come to impact the daily lives of Turkish residents.
ANTAKYA, Turkey — For the past month, the news media have monitored the battle for Kobani — the Syrian town with a majority Kurdish population — from the southeastern border town of Suruc. From there, the media have also covered the Kurdish protests in Turkey that have left 40 dead. Yet, in the Turkish province of Hatay, about a 4-hour drive from Suruc, residents kept silent on both matters.
This province, which received the first batch of Syrian refugees, is unique for its diverse social fabric that includes Arab Alawites, Sunnis, Christians and Jews. Here, the groups live harmoniously and respect each other’s customs and traditions. This multicultural society has high rates of literacy and an overwhelming number of doctors and lawyers.
“This silence here is, indeed, a mirror of Syrian sectarianism and proof that it found reception on this end, too,” Huseyin told Al-Monitor. “Just as our proverb says, ‘Let sleeping dogs lie,’ people here wonder why Kurds did not equally care about what happened in Kassab. Why haven’t they been more vocal for all that has been going on in Syria for about four years now? The Turkish government was wrong then, too.”
He said, “Kurds were wrong to keep silent then, and people here are wrong today to be cold toward Kobani. More and more people focus exclusively on their core community’s interests, turning their backs on others. The Alawites marked the 'peace day' [Sept. 21] here this year by carrying [Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad’s picture. To them, he fell victim to an international conspiracy and is fighting for his country.”
