Hate Speech in the Press: Our Selections from March

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

In Turkish print media within the month of March;

Jewish identity was held responsible for the acts of a group of people through negative references and was labeled as aggressive.
In news reports on tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Armenia-Turkey football match in Yerevan, the Armenian identity was mentioned in negative terms.
The perception that Syrians pose a threat to social order was created by associating Syrian identity with crime. The number of Syrian refugees was presented as problematic and as a threat of invasion.
Greek identity was associated with violence due to the Greek state violating the rights of migrants.
Greek Cypriot identity was labeled as aggressor in news articles on the current and historical relations between the Greek Cypriot Administration of
Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

1 March 2023	1. Milli Gazete, "JEWS ATTACKED EVEN THEIR OWN SOLDIERS" This news article relates a statement made by the Israeli Army on Twitter after acts of violence against soldiers by a group in Nablus. In the news’s headline and content, the responsibility for the acts of violence committed by this group is attributed to Jewish identity. The emphasis on the word 'even' in the headline reinforces the perception that identity poses a threat. Existing prejudices against Jews, who are associated with violence and labeled as aggressors, are reinforced.
8 March 2023	2. Yeni Akit, "Hindu genocide of Muslims is growing" This news article claims that attacks on Muslims by Hindu groups have increased in India under Prime Minister Modi's administration. Muslims are allegedly being lynched and killed for slaughtering cows, while mosques, madrassas, and houses are also being destroyed. The headline blames Hindu identity for these incidents. Hindu identity is associated with violence and portrayed as a threat to Muslims, reinforcing existing prejudices and hostility towards Hindus.
6 March 2023	3. Yeni Akit, "Armenians' treachery sparked a clash" This news article covers the clash between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the statement made by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry afterwards. The headline uses negative adjectives to target Armenian identity and reinforces the perception that Armenians pose a threat. Existing prejudices and enmity against Armenians are thus reinforced.
8 March 2023	4. Milli Gazete, "JEWISH TERROR IN PALESTINE!" This news article reports that a Palestinian family was attacked by a group in the West Bank and that Israeli soldiers were celebrating the Purim Holiday during the attack. The headline and the content of the news attribute responsibility for the alleged acts of violence committed by a group to Jewish identity. In the headline, Jews are associated with the term 'terror' and are portrayed as a threat. The perception of enmity against Jews is reinforced through the war discourse.
16 March 2023	5. Kocaeli Yeni Haber, "Syrians assaulted Headman Ayar" This news article covers an alleged fight in Gebze and the injury of the local headman (mukhtar) who tried to stop it. While reporting on the allegation, Syrian identity is emphasized in the headline and content of the news, although the crime is not related to identity. By associating identity with violence, the perception that Syrians pose a threat to social order is reinforced. As such, existing prejudices against refugees are reinforced.
13 March 2023	6. Sonsöz Gazetesi, "DON’T LEAVE HATAY TO THE SYRIANS!" In this column, the changing demographics of Hatay after the February 6 earthquakes are interpreted in relation to historical narratives in which Hatay was included within the borders of Turkey. It reinforces the claim that the Syrian population living in Hatay will pose a threat if people with citizenship status migrate to other provinces after the earthquakes. The claim that there may be civil unrest in Hatay and that Hatay may be annexed to Syria through a referendum is defended. Through this claim, it is emphasized that Syrians pose a threat of invasion and the existing perception of hostility towards Syrians is reinforced.
16 March 2023	7. Manşet (Aydın), "Greek murder" This news article reports that a boat with migrants trying to cross to Greece off the coast of Kuşadası was pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek Coast Guards. In the headline, the responsibility for the human rights violations committed by a group is attributed to Greek identity. The identity is associated with violence and labeled as aggressive. The news states that the migrants were rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard and Gendarmerie teams. Turkish identity is positioned as a savior against Greek identity and a hierarchical relationship between identities is emphasized. In this way, existing prejudices and hostility towards Greeks are reinforced.
21 March 2023	8. Yazar Gazetesi, "Jews attack church in East Jerusalem" This news article reports that two people attacked the Church of the Sepulcher of Saint Mary in East Jerusalem and that the security guard of the church was interviewed afterwards. In the headline, the responsibility for the attack is attributed to Jewish identity, and the identity is labeled as aggressive. Jews are targeted by being associated with violence, and enmity towards them is incited.
26 March 2023	9. Hürriyet, "ARMENIAN DISRESPECT TOWARDS OUR NATIONAL MARCH" This news article covers the whistling of Armenian fans during the Turkish National Anthem before the Turkey-Armenia football match. The news targets Armenian identity while reporting that Armenian fans did not stand and whistled during the Turkish national anthem. The actions of the fans are attributed to Armenian identity and Armenians are associated with 'disrespect'. As such, existing prejudices against Armenians are reinforced.
22 March 2023	10. Kıbrıs Tercüman, "If there is an occupation and occupier in Cyprus, it is the Greek Cypriots themselves!" This news article reports on the political tension between the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by relating it to historical narratives. It is claimed that Turks are discriminated against and not recognized as the legal representative on the island of Cyprus. In the headline and content of the news, the Greek Cypriot identity is associated with aggression and labeled as a threat. Using negative language, Greek Cypriots are targeted and enmity against them is incited.
23 March 2023	11. Milat, "Greeks treat refugees like enemies" This news article covers a press conference statement made by the president of the International Center for Watching Violation of Rights and the report on rights violations that the president shared with the public. The president of the center states that refugees crossing the border to Greece are subjected to violence. The headline attributes the responsibility for these acts to Greek identity. Greece's refugee policies and state agencies committing violence are not evaluated critically. Instead, the existing perception of hostility towards Greeks is reinforced.
24 March 2023	12. Milli Gazete, "GREEK CYPRIOT ARMAMENT escalates tensions in the Mediterranean" This news article focuses on the meeting between the Ambassador of Nicosia and TRNC President Ersin Tatar. The President's statements at the press conference held after the meeting on the purchase of weapons by the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus are carried to the headline and the Greek Cypriot identity is targeted. In the headline, the armament is associated with the Greek Cypriots and they are portrayed as a threat.
29 March 2023	13. Yeni Şafak, "LGBT 'individual' made a massacre at school" This news article reports on an armed attack on an elementary school in the US. The statement allegedly made by the Nashville police regarding the attacker is included in the headline, which specifies the LGBTI+ identity of the attacker. Although the crime is not related to identity, LGBTI+’s are associated with violence with the emphasis of identity in the headline. Existing prejudices and the perception that LGBTI+ people pose a threat are thus reinforced.
27 March 2023	14. Karadeniz, "THANKING ARMENIANS WHO POURED OUT SWEAR WORDS" This news article covers the statement of the coach of the Turkish national team thanking the Armenian people and evaluating the match after the Turkey-Armenia football match. In the news, the fact that the Turkish team coach is from Germany is emphasized and his gratitude is criticized. While reporting on the statement in question, Armenian identity is targeted by reminding readers that Armenian fans whistled during the national anthem and cursed out Turkish players. Enmity against Armenians is incited.
30 March 2023	15. Diriliş Postası, "Greek Cypriots attacked Tatar" This news article reports on the blocking of TRNC President Ersin Tatar's car by a group of students in the UK and the statement made by the President afterwards. In the headline and content of the news, the responsibility for the protest in question is attributed to the Greek Cypriot identity which is made out to be aggressive. The relationship between the incident and hate speech is ignored and hate speech is reproduced with the statement in the headline. In this way, the existing hostility towards the identity is reinforced.