‘There is no Harassment in İkitelli, But Racist Attack Against Syrians’

*Syrians are our brothers and sisters, don't touch them"

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The International Refugee Rights Association has released a written statement regarding the incident which turned into a lynch attempt against the Syrian refugees in İkitelli, İstanbul.

After a shop owner alleged that "his little daughter was harassed by someone" in the Neighborhood of İkitelli in Küçükçekmece, İstanbul, the reactions to the allegation, especially on social media, turned into a lynch attempt targeting the Syrians living in the neighborhood.

'There is absolutely no rape or harassment'

The International Refugee Rights Association has released a written statement regarding the incident. Stating that they formed a committee upon the allegations, the Association indicated that the committee made an examination in the neighborhood and shared the following findings:

* First of all, there is absolutely no incident of harassment or rape.

* The incident submitted to the Küçükçekmece security occurred between two children of the same age and is nothing other than a misunderstanding. The family in question stated that they did not file a criminal complaint against anyone. (Statement by İstanbul Governorship)

* As a result of unreal social media posts, the houses and workshops of Syrians were damaged, the houses and workshops owned by them were unjustly damaged though there was no incident of harassment.

* The incidents that allegedly ended in death took place in the past and the images in question show incidents that occured for other reasons and are not related with this incident. No incident of death or killing took place.

* The social media posts that announced the incidents and incited the public to enmity and hatred were mostly shared by fake accounts, not by the accounts of real people. The security teams have been continuing their works of identification and legal action.

* The social media posts that escalated the incidents and caused indignation on social media were shared in a deliberate and organized manner, the alleged incidents are absolutely unreal.

Governorship released a statement

The Governorship of İstanbul previously released a written statement regarding the incident and announced that both the family of the child who was allegedly harassed and the child herself deposed that "the incident was caused by a misunderstanding and they did not complain against anyone."

"The legal and administrative investigation is continuing", the Governorship further informed. (EMK/SD)

* Photograph: marksist.org