Click to read the article in Turkish
Ümit Özdağ, the President of the Victory (Zafer) Party went to Mersin for his election campaign and toured the neighborhoods where migrants from Syria live in large numbers.
Özdağ used racist expressions while walking on Fasih Kayabalı Avenue where there are numerous shopkeepers from Syria and said, "We are on Damascus Avenue in Mersin. What is special about this avenue? On the left and on the right; all shops belong to Syrians. All other shops have withdrawn from here. As if we are walking somewhere in Damascus. If you hear the voices, the majority is speaking Arabic and most of these are Arabic shops.
Next, an interesting dialogue took place between Özdağ and a young person from Syria.
The young migrant: Everybody has gathered here, around Ümit Özdağ, including the Syrians. See how much people love you. You were saying...
Özdağ: Why? Because we want to bring you together with your homeland again.
The young migrant: Is this all that your campaign is about?
Özdağ: There are other things.
The young migrant: What, for example? What are your election promises to the people? What are you promising your people at the moment here, other than sending Syrians back?
Özdağ: Look now; are you from Syria?
The young migrant: Yes, I am.
Ümit Özdağ: We promise Syrians only to send them back to their homeland. What we promise the other does not concern you. You are not a citizen here.
The young migrant: I want to say something.
Özdağ: Do not.
(VC/PE)
