Report: Media Blames Syrian Refugees for Citizens Who Cannot Receive Healthcare

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The Media and Refugee Rights Association has released its fourth report on media representation of refugees in Turkey.

Analyzing the news about refugees published in online media between December 28 and January 3, the Media and Refugee Rights Association has stated that 641 news reports violated the rights of refugees in a week.

According to the report, the analyzed news reports contained hate speech, hostile expressions, unconfirmed false information, criminalizing discourse towards refugees and false, while it was also seen that facts about refugees were distorted or exaggerated.

The report noted that some news outlets and politicians blamed Syrian refugees for five million citizens losing their right to benefit from health services.

Daily Yeni Çağ published a new article titled, "Five million citizens will not be able to benefit from the service that is offered to Syrians for free."

People who failed to pay charges for General Health Insurance have not been able to receive health services since January 1.

While the report said that refugees were targeted in news and column articles and social media posts, the fact that Syrian refugees will also have to pay a contribution for health services due to an amendment to the Temporary Protection Regulation was not mentioned.

Photographs that clearly show faces of refugee children were also published in the media, without their security being taken into consideration, the report stressed. (AÖ/VK)