Erdoğan welcomes Syrian refugees who would like to stay in Turkey
Following Assad’s ouster, Turkish President Erdoğan has welcomed Syrian refugees who want to stay in Turkey. Turkey hosts around three million Syrian refugees.
Duvar English
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 13 welcomed Syrian refugees who would like to stay in the country following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster by the rebels.
Speaking during a party congress in the Sakarya province, Erdoğan said, “While fulfilling the requirements of our fraternity law, we had to face many pressures, accusations, provocations from inside and outside,” criticizing the opposition’s anti-immigration rhetoric.
“They ask why Turkey is in Syria. Some ask this question out of ignorance or ideological fanaticism. Now you see why we are in Syria. Where is the head of Syria? After 13 years, Syria has taken the first step towards liberation. As the Baath regime fell, Assad had to pack his bags and flee overnight. We watched the prisons in Syria, and how Assad persecuted these people,” he said.
Erdoğan added, “Our guests who own homes, businesses, and land in Syria are slowly making their way back. Those who want to stay here are welcome.”
Last week, jihadist rebels seized Damascus and Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war.
With Assad’s ouster, some Syrian refugees in Turkey have started returning to their homelands.
Turkey hosts around three million Syrian refugees.