Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused opposition parties of inciting xenophobia and racism following violent riots in Kayseri province, where Syrian-owned shops were set on fire by local residents.

The unrest erupted late Sunday in the Melikgazi region after reports surfaced that a Syrian refugee allegedly sexually harassed a 7-year-old Syrian girl. Enraged residents overturned cars and torched shops, demanding that Syrians leave the area.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media platform X that 67 individuals suspected of involvement in the violence had been detained.

In a televised address on Monday, Erdoğan criticized opposition parties for advocating the repatriation of refugees and inciting violence.

“Nothing can be achieved by fueling xenophobia and hatred of refugees in society,” Erdoğan stated. “One of the reasons for the tragic event that was caused by a small group in Kayseri yesterday is the poisonous discourse of the opposition.”

Türkiye, which hosts the largest refugee population globally, initially welcomed Syrian refugees with compassion following the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011. However, as the refugee population grew and economic difficulties escalated, anti-migrant sentiment increased. Opposition parties have been vocal in calling for the repatriation of Syrians.

Officials confirmed that the alleged abuser had been arrested and that the girl, her siblings, and mother were placed under state protection to receive psychological support.

The violence in Kayseri triggered backlash in opposition-held areas of northwestern Syria, including regions controlled by Turkish-backed forces. In Aleppo province, near the Turkish border, protesters blocked Turkish convoys and trucks from entering towns such as al-Rai and al-Bab. Demonstrators also forced the closure of a Turkish post office branch in Azaz.

Rising tensions in Syrian opposition-held areas have been fueled by apparent moves towards rapprochement between Ankara and the Syrian government of Bashar Assad, including plans to open a crossing between government and opposition-held areas in Aleppo province.

The Idlib-based “salvation government” of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a formerly al-Qaida-linked insurgent group, issued a statement calling on Türkiye to protect Syrian refugees and assume its legal and moral responsibilities.

In 2021, similar anti-Syrian riots broke out in Ankara after a Turkish teenager was killed in a fight with Syrian youths, leading to widespread vandalism of Syrian-run shops and attacks on refugees’ homes.

Türkiye currently hosts over 4 million refugees, according to government figures, though some estimates suggest the actual number may be significantly higher. (ILKHA)