Hostility against refugees flares in Gaziantep after Syrian tenant allegedly kills landlord

GAZİANTEP

Police resorted to tear gas to disperse the crowd while a special operation team was sent to evacuate the Syrian family from their home.

Hostility toward refugees has flared again in the southeastern province of Gaziantep after a landlord was allegedly killed by his Syrian tenant on Aug. 11.

According to the claims, the victim, identified as H.Ç., was stabbed to death in an altercation after he attempted to evict his Syrian tenant.

Although the Syrian suspect took flight, a large crowd gathered after the news spread and attempted to attack the building. Police resorted to tear gas to disperse the crowd while a special operation team was sent to evacuate the Syrian family from their home.

Police, who launched an operation to capture the fugitive suspect, have now begun to investigate the murder, officials said. H.Ç.’s body was sent to forensics for further examination.

The latest incident comes as tension in southeastern provinces with respect to the presence of Syrian refugees is increasing. Crowds attacked a building where Syrians were living in neighboring Şanlıurfa late last month, while over 1,000 people demonstrated against refugees in nearby Kahramanmaraş.

Experts have said Turkey has failed to deal with refugees in cities after being overwhelmed by the mass influx of Syrians, who are fleeing the civil war in their country.