Hate Speech in the Press: Our Selections from February

Using critical discourse analysis, we evaluated news articles and columns that were published in Turkey’s national and local press in February 2023 that targeted national, ethnic, and religious identities. You may access news clippings and detailed analysis at “Hate Speech in the Press: Our Selections from February”.

In Turkish print media within the month of February;

The perception that Syrians pose a threat to social order was created by associating Syrian identity with crime. The number of Syrian migrants and refugees were presented as problematic and as a threat of invasion.
Armenian identity was labelled as violent and a threat in news articles and columns covering the commemoration of the Khojaly Massacre.
Hindus were targeted as responsible for the violence allegedly organized against Muslims in India.
Jewish identity was associated with aggression and labelled as responsible for violent incidents.
Greek Cypriot identity was negatively portrayed in news articles on the current relations between the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

3 February 2023	1. Milat, "JEWISH ATTACK ON HISTORIC CHURCH" The news article reports on the vandalism of a statue of Jesus in an East Jerusalem church and the statements of the Israeli police and a church official regarding the incident. While the article labels the perpetrator of the incident as a 'fanatic Jew', the headline of the news also attributes the responsibility for the incident to Jewish identity by using the phrase 'Jewish Attack'. This title associates Jewish identity with aggression, and as such, existing prejudices and associations of Jews as a threat and violent are reinforced.
6 February 2023	2. Adana 5 Ocak, "Brawling Syrians deported" The news article covers a fight that allegedly took place in a marketplace in Adana and the subsequent deportation of the suspects after being taken into custody. While reporting on the incident in question, Syrian identity is emphasized in the headline and news content, despite having no relation to the alleged crime. By associating Syrian identity with violence, the perception that refugees pose a threat to social order and existing prejudices against Syrians are reinforced.
5 February 2023	3. Yeni Bakış Gazetesi, "Greek Cypriots are coming in droves" This news article reports on the crossing statistics of the Northern Cyprus land gates in 2022 according to national citizenship. No reference is shared regarding the data in the table, which breaks down the crossing numbers. According to the data in the table, although the highest rate of crossings compared to the previous year does not belong to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, the rate of Greek Cypriot crossings is portrayed as problematic. In the title, Greek Cypriots are marked as a threat, and hate speech is generated through distortion.
12 February 2023	4. Yeni Marmara, "WHATEVER I WRITE FEELS EMPTY THESE DAYS..." In a column regarding the February 6th earthquakes, the claim that there are images of ‘Syrian extortion gangs and thieves’ circulating on social media is repeated without any critical evaluation. While discussing these videos, Syrian identity is emphasized even though it is not related to the crime, and is thus associated with criminality. Furthermore, the existence of the Syrian population living under temporary protection status in Hatay is presented as problematic. It is claimed that if Turkish citizens migrate from Hatay, the Syrian population living there will pose a threat. The reader is reminded of the historic referendum that led to the region joining Turkey, and it is suggested that Hatay could be 'lost' if there were another referendum, due to possible demographic change in the province. As such, Syrians are targeted and hostility towards their identity is reinforced.
16 February 2023	5. Anayurt, "As the disaster of the century unfolds" In this column, the responsibility for the incidents of looting and theft in the region of the February 6 earthquakes is attributed to Syrians, who are insulted and associated with crime. Furthermore, Syrians living in Turkey under different statuses and the birth rates of Syrian women are presented as problematic. Many common misconceptions about Syrians are repeated in the article and their presence is portrayed as a threat. This threat is associated with the narrative of 'Armenians attacking Turks in 1914', furthering enmity towards Armenians through generalizations and associations with crime. Similarly, Syrians are also portrayed as enemies by claiming that they pose a threat of invasion. Hate speech is generated against Armenians and Syrians through these allegations.
17 February 2023	6. Yeni Akit, "HINDUS’ BLOODCHILLING SAVAGERY" This news article reports on the alleged killing of two Muslims in India for 'slaughtering a cow' and the statement of their families. The headline attributes the responsibility for the incident to Hindu identity. Hindus are targeted by associating the expression 'savagery' in the headline with Hindu identity, and as such, enmity against Hindus is incited.
15 February 2023	7. Çorum Haber, "They looted the soup kitchen established by Sungurlu" This news article covers the soup kitchen established by Sungurlu Municipality in Hatay after the February 6 earthquakes and the mayor's statement regarding Syrians. In his statement, the mayor claims that Syrians tried to loot supplies and that they tried to intervene. While reporting the allegation, the mayor's statement is not approached critically and the need to corroborate the allegation is not mentioned. In addition, the responsibility for the alleged crime is attributed to Syrian identity, creating hate speech that targets Syrians. In a context where refugees and asylum-seekers are frequently targets of hate speech, this news article reinforces existing prejudices against them.
16 February 2023	8. Gaziantep Sabah, "Aid is distributed unfairly, looting and theft incidents occur" This news article reports on the problems in the tent city established in Antep after the earthquake and includes interviews with local citizens. Interviewees claim that aid has been distributed unfairly and that there are incidents of looting and theft. The claim that 'Syrians are looting so much.' is repeated without proper use of quotation marks. With this unconfirmed claim, hate speech against Syrians is reproduced by associating identity with crime.
22 February 2023	9. İzmir 9 Eylül, "Pay attention to Hatay!" The column interprets the changes in Hatay's demography after the earthquakes in relation to the historical narrative of Hatay's incorporation into Turkey. The fact that it is easier for people with citizenship status to leave the earthquake zone compared to migrants and refugees has resulted in an increase in the proportion of Syrians in the overall local population. The perception that Syrians pose a threat is reinforced by claims that they have bought property and established companies in Hatay. The article reproduces incomplete and inaccurate information, fueling existing prejudices and enmity against Syrians.
24 February 2023	10. Gazete Boğaz, "LEFT BY GREEKS TO DIE, SAVED BY TURKS!" This news article reports on refugees being pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek coastguards off the coast of Ayvacık. The headline attributes the responsibility for these human rights violations to Greek identity while Turkish identity is positioned as the 'savior', creating a hierarchical relationship between the identities. In this way, prejudices and enmity against Greeks are fueled.
26 February 2023	11. Yeni Akit, "Armenians’ massacre at Khojaly is not forgotten" The news article focuses on the massacre at Khojaly on February 26, 1992. In the headline and content of the article, the responsibility for the acts of violence committed by a group is generalized to the Armenian identity. Armenians are held responsible for the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan and state policies. By associating Armenian identity with violence and aggression, enmity against Armenians is fueled.
27 February 2023	12. Yeni Akit, "The massacre committed by Armenians is genocide" This news article conveys the views of a retired military prosecutor who took part in the Khojaly Massacre investigation. He stated that the massacre should be called a genocide according to international conventions. While the expression 'Armenian forces' is used in the text of the news article, the headline attributes the responsibility for what happened to Armenian identity. The headline associates Armenian identity with crime and violence. In this way, enmity against targeted Armenians is incited.
25 February 2023	13. Yeni Akit, "Hindus attack Islamic center" This news article reports on an alleged attack by a group on an Islamic center in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The responsibility for the actions organized by a group is attributed to Hindu identity. Hindu identity is associated with violence and labeled as the aggressor. As such, existing prejudices and hostility towards Hindus are reinforced.
9 February 2023	14. Aydınlık, "Turks seek life, Greek Cypriots seek opportunity" This news article focuses on the statement made by the Foreign Ministry of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus on the possibility of sending aid to Turkey after the earthquakes in Maraş. The statement that the aid will be sent on behalf of the 'Republic of Cyprus' is interpreted as the non-recognition of the TRNC and presented as problematic. In the headline, a hierarchical relationship is established between Greek and Turkish identities. Greek Cypriot identity is targeted through the use of negative adjectives and existing prejudices against Greek Cypriots are reinforced.
21 February 2023	15. Diriliş Postası, "Jews raid Al-Aqsa Mosque" This news article reports on a statement by the Islamic Endowments Authority in Jerusalem that a Jewish group stormed the Haram al-Sharif. By altering the statement in the headline, the responsibility for the incident is attributed to Jewish identity. The headline also associates Jewish identity with violence and incites enmity against Jews.