Languages and language discrimination were the subjects of my earlier articles. Today's post will address racism, which goes beyond different types of biases based on language disparities. This type of behavior blames or severely criticizes not just one's culture, but also one's skin color and appearance.
WHAT IS ANTI-TURKISH SENTIMENT?
Anger, intolerance, or prejudice aimed towards Turks, their culture, and their language is known as anti-Turkish sentiment (Turkish: Türk düşmanl) or Turkophobia (Turkish: Türkofobi). The term refers to anti-Turkish sentiment directed not just towards Turks everywhere, but also at Ottoman subjects and descendants of ethnic Turks, such as Syrian and Iraqi Turkmen. It is also credited to smaller ethnic groups in the Balkans, such as Albanians, Bosniaks, and others, who grew up under the influence of Turkish culture and customs while adopting to Islam, particularly under the Ottoman Empire.
EXAMPLES OF RACISM TOWARS TURKS IN GERMANY?
Several activities are being conducted to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Solingen disaster, according to the dailyshabah website. On May 29, 1993, four youths between the ages of 16 and 23 set fire to the Genç family's home. Five Turkish nationals were killed and a dozen others were injured in the racist arson attack. The majority of Germany's three million Turks are descendants of post-World War II "guest labourers." Following Ekşi's killing, further assaults occurred, such as the one that killed Mustafa Demiral, 56, in Mülheim in 1993. The so-called "Döner murders" occurred in the early 2000s when a number of Turkish shopkeepers were targeted in several German locations.
Another example of this type of discrimination occurred when German footballer Mesut Ozil had a poor showing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia. After being knocked out of the competition, the player remarked that when he wins, he is German, and when he loses, he is another immigrant. Ozil has decided to resign from the German national team as a result of these racist incidents and actions. He is a Turkish-born footballer who has successfully assimilated into his adopted country's culture (Germany). He is regarded as one of Germany's greatest players of all time. This type of vitriolic abuse towards a guy who represents the country in international events only because he has Turkish ancestors is intolerable.
This campaign is about societal division in Germany, not only violent attacks or verbal harassment. Turkish restaurant owners have been subjected to racial insults from customers and government institutions, according to many national media. There are several stories that have the same underlying issue of prejudice towards this community, which has existed in Germany for a long time. According to some sources, the hostility is really intense that many Turks are considering leaving the country because of the various verbal and physical assaults they have received and experienced in Germany.
OPINION ABOUT THIS MATTER
As I have often stated on my blog, any form of abuse is repugnant to me. The posts I publish cover topics and concepts that interest me and, in my view, can raise awareness among my readers about societal concerns such as racism and other forms of abuse. Other articles focus on why it is necessary to study foreign languages, and my response is that we learn languages to learn about our cultural differences and to learn from one another, allowing us to construct a more respected and tolerant society in the future.
The examples I provided earlier are only a small portion of what has been happening in Germany for decades. It is not customary for individuals born in Germany to be treated differently just because they have foreign ancestors and a distinct cultural background. One of the reasons I started this blog was to address this issue. I wanted a place where I could express my ideas and viewpoints on current social issues, as well as a platform where I could speak out against abuses that are today considered unacceptable. Because we live in a different period than 50 years ago, this is intolerable.
SOURCES
From Eastern Europe to Western China. (n.d.). Google Books; books.google.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://books.google.com/books?id=NK4TAQAAIAAJ
The Muslim World League Journal. (n.d.). Google Books; books.google.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://books.google.com/books?id=mD0wAAAAYAAJ&q=anti-turkish
Racism still big threat in Germany: Turkish envoy. (n.d.). Racism Still Big Threat in Germany: Turkish Envoy; www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved March 12, 2022, from https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/racism-still-big-threat-in-germany-turkish-envoy/1858119
Turks in Berlin rally around Ozil in racism row - France 24. (2018, June 23). France 24; www.france24.com. https://www.france24.com/en/20180723-turks-berlin-rally-around-ozil-racism-row-0
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