Erdogan's proposed talks with Assad concern Syrians in Turkey

ISTANBUL,— Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s unexpected plan to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for talks has sparked concerns among Syrians in Turkey about potential deportation. This comes shortly after a wave of anti-migrant violence has already left the community in turmoil.

Ankara severed diplomatic ties with Damascus in 2011 at the onset of Syria’s civil war, with Turkish forces supporting anti-Assad factions in the north.

Recently, however, Erdogan has emphasized the need for reconciliation with Turkey’s southern neighbor. On Sunday, he expressed willingness to invite Assad “any time” to discuss restoring relations disrupted by the war, which involved the U.S., Russia, Turkey, and various armed groups.

“There are concerns that Erdogan might reach an agreement with Assad and repatriate Syrians to areas under Damascus control,” stated Samir Alabdullah, a spokesperson for the Harmoon Centre for Contemporary Studies in Istanbul.

He added, “Some are also worried about losing their Turkish citizenship,” referring to Turkey’s more than three million Syrian refugees.

Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees globally, and the influx of Syrians has led to growing concern among Turkish citizens about the permanence of their stay.

This prompted Erdogan to assure the public of forthcoming talks and the promise of a “honorable” voluntary return for many refugees.

Ahmad, a 19-year-old Syrian student in Istanbul’s Eyupsultan district, mentioned that his family is contemplating selling their properties in Turkey due to the recent anti-immigrant unrest.

“They are scared even though they have Turkish citizenship,” he said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.

In Istanbul’s crowded Sultanbeyli district, home to many Syrian refugees, locals reported that attackers vandalized a Syrian-owned barber shop, breaking its windows and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. A Syrian mother shared that her eight-year-old son now prefers to stay indoors out of fear.

Erdogan emphasized that maintaining public order is a priority for Turkey. Meanwhile, Syria has stipulated that any normalization of ties requires Turkey to withdraw thousands of troops from rebel-held areas, a condition Ankara deems unacceptable due to security threats from Syrian Kurdish militants.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights, a UK-based advocacy organization, declared on Friday that Syria remains unsafe for the return of millions of refugees from Turkey.

Last week, Erdogan, who had toughened his stance on migrants ahead of last year’s presidential elections, stated that 670,000 people have already returned to settlements in northern Syria, with another 1 million expected to follow.

Erdogan’s latest overture towards Assad has amplified anxieties among the Syrian community in Turkey, who now face an uncertain future amidst the shifting political landscape.

The prospect of renewed diplomatic relations between Turkey and Syria raises critical questions about the fate of millions of refugees seeking safety and stability away from their war-torn homeland.

(with files from Reuters)