Tensions between Syrians and locals in Turkey distorted, exaggerated: Ministry

ANKARA

Occasional tensions erupting between Syrian refugees in Turkey and locals have recently been distorted and conveyed in an exaggerating way that would create indignation among the public, the Turkish Interior Ministry stated on July 5.

In a written statement on its website, the ministry said the issue had been attempted to be turned into an element of instigation and domestic politics.

“The average annual rate of incidents that involved Syrians in the total public security incidents in Turkey between 2014 and 2017 is 1.32 percent,” it said, adding that a majority of those incidents had been caused by disagreements among Syrian refugees.

It also added that there was a five percent decrease in Syrians committing crime in 2017 compared to figures in the first six months of last year.