Attack on refugees' shops in İstanbul's Esenyurt

Photo: AA

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Locals in Esenyurt, a low-income neighborhood in İstanbul, attacked a shopping mall with refugees' shops on Sunday (January 9).

The incident reportedly occurred after an argument between locals and a refugee from Palestine, who later took shelter in a shop in the shopping mall.

A mob of dozens of people then attacked the mall while chanting, "This is Turkey, not Syria."

Esenyurt'ta saldırgan bir grup, Suriyeli esnafın dükkanını taşladı | Esenyurt’ta saldırgan bir grup, Suriyeli bir vatandaşın dükkanını "Burası Türkiye, Suriye değil" sloganları atarak taşladı. Organize saldırıda dükkanın camlarını kıran grup, dükkanım içine girdi. pic.twitter.com/FAdXG2YdPF

— Yaşar Usta (@yasarustaportal) January 9, 2022

Police intervened in the attack as two people were injured and windows of the shops were broken.

Seven people, including four children, were detained after the incident, according to a statement by the İstanbul Governor's Office.

Releasing a statement after the attack, the Human Rights Association (İHD) said impunity encourages such attacks.

"The prevailing opinion that those who were detained would be left with impunity also encourages the attackers and increases the tension and anxiety among the people exposed to attacks," said the association.

"We defend an equal and free life together, and denounce the attack and those who pave the way for it. We call on the state authorities, who are responsible for the safety of life and property of everyone in their country, to stop racism and hate attacks, which are crimes, to abandon policies of impunity, which encourages attacks, and to ensure effective reparation for the damage caused by the attacks." (AÖ/VK)