Page 166 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

mostly in certain areas of the cities for economic reasons, and people coming from rural
areas of Syria have difficulties in adapting to urban life. In addition, the likelihood of
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this group staying permanently in our country is increasing day by day, and as the
duration of their stay in our country has been prolonged, they feel obliged to establish
new lives for themselves. 78

It is widely accepted that language learning is the key to overcoming the afore-mentioned
difficulties and ensuring social integration. Language learning is the most necessary
element for such issues as education and employment, which can be regarded as other
tools of social integration mentioned in this study. For this reason, Turkish language
education should be expanded, and necessary precautions should be taken, especially in
order for children to continue their Turkish learning and education without disruption.
In the same way, education and courses for adults to Turkish should be expanded, and
local governments should be included in processes related to social integration. Also,
the experiences of the Syrians in their countries and in our country should be shared
with the public through visual and written media as much as possible, and empathy for
Syrians should be strengthened in this way.

Beside this, it is necessary to facilitate the participation of Syrians in determining the
content of work to be done on Syrians in Türkiye and in the strategy-setting process.

◊ “High” but “Fragile” Social Acceptance Sustainability

Türkiye remained alone with the most serious and biggest humanitarian crisis of its
history. In this process, it is clear that the effort and sacrifice put forth by the Turkish
people and the state is extraordinary. Despite all the worries and disruptions to Turkish
society, it can be safely said that the social acceptance level for Syrians is extraordinarily
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high. It is not difficult to predict that, if this had happened in another part of the
world, over the course of six years, such a high number of refugees entering the country
would lead to very serious rejections and problems. However, although the level of
social acceptance is very high, it should not be forgotten that it is a fragile and sensitive
structure. Despite the hospitality of Turkish society, it is also true that there are some
concerns because of the Syrian presence in Türkiye. Although religious and cultural
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M. M. Erdoğan, “Framework for Living Together with Syrian Refugees in Türkiye” in Syrians in Türkiye under
Temporary Protection: Findings and Recommendations, eds. Adem Esen and Mehmet Duman (Istanbul:
Aryan, 2016), 73-93.
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Ahmet Koyuncu. “A Blessing? A Burden? An Annotation on Türkiye’s Syrian Asylum Seekers and Migration
Economy.” Esen Adem and Duman Mehmet (Ed.) ” in Syrians in Türkiye under Temporary Protection: Findings
and Recommendations, eds. Adem Esen and Mehmet Duman (Istanbul: Aryan, 2016), 115-139
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M. M. Erdoğan. Syrians in Türkiye: Social Acceptance and Integration (İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi University
Publishing House, 2015).

166 SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT