Nasip Kaplan, left, and Cevat Aydogan own shops on opposite sides of the road in Istanbul's Tarlabasi neighbourhood and have different views on who should be Turkey's next president. Jamie Prentis / The National
Nasip Kaplan, left, and Cevat Aydogan own shops on opposite sides of the road in Istanbul's Tarlabasi neighbourhood and have different views on who should be Turkey's next president. Jamie Prentis / The National
Nasip Kaplan, left, and Cevat Aydogan own shops on opposite sides of the road in Istanbul's Tarlabasi neighbourhood and have different views on who should be Turkey's next president. Jamie Prentis / The National
Nasip Kaplan, left, and Cevat Aydogan own shops on opposite sides of the road in Istanbul's Tarlabasi neighbourhood and have different views on who should be Turkey's next president. Jamie Prentis / T

Syrian refugee debate divides opinions in Istanbul's Tarlabasi neighbourhood


Jamie Prentis
  • English
  • Arabic

As the finale of the Turkish presidential battle rapidly approaches, few subjects have made as many headlines as the status of Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu may have put on the most successful opposition campaign during Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20 years in charge, but he still lagged behind the long-time leader in the first round, almost two weeks ago.

In an attempt to claw back the 5 per cent gap to the current president, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) has quickly upped the rhetoric against the estimated 3.4 million Syrian refugees, promising to expel them while also courting far-right voters.

But for some Turkish voters, Mr Kilicdaroglu is missing the point.

Turkey is currently struggling with an economic crisis. Inflation soared above 83 per cent last October, a 24-year high, while the Turkish lira plummeted to record lows against the US dollar on Friday.

Tarlabasi is a run-down neighbourhood nestled a stone's throw from the famous Taksim street. It is home to a large mix of migrant communities who fled domestic and regional conflicts – Arabs, Kurds and Turks.

"Making politics about refugees is not useful for us," said electronics shop owner Nasip Kaplan, as he drinks tea at the start of his working day.

"It's not very logical to build all the campaign on Syrian refugees. We have many more issues besides the Syrians," said the 50-year-old, a supporter of Mr Erdogan's main electoral ally.

  • Supporters chant slogans and wave flags as they listen to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a campaign rally in Istanbul. Getty
    Supporters chant slogans and wave flags as they listen to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a campaign rally in Istanbul. Getty
  • Mr Erdogan faces Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party in a presidential run-off vote on Sunday. AP
    Mr Erdogan faces Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People's Party in a presidential run-off vote on Sunday. AP
  • None of the three candidates in the May 14 election received more than 50 per cent of the vote, forcing a run-off. AP
    None of the three candidates in the May 14 election received more than 50 per cent of the vote, forcing a run-off. AP
  • The third candidate, Sinan Ogan, has since declared his support for Mr Erdogan. AP
    The third candidate, Sinan Ogan, has since declared his support for Mr Erdogan. AP
  • One of the most significant differences between Mr Erdogan and Mr Kilicdaroglu is their stance on the Syrian refugee issue. AP
    One of the most significant differences between Mr Erdogan and Mr Kilicdaroglu is their stance on the Syrian refugee issue. AP
  • Turkey has nearly four million refugees who have fled the war in Syria since it began in 2011. AP
    Turkey has nearly four million refugees who have fled the war in Syria since it began in 2011. AP
  • Mr Erdogan has stood out from his rival by promising not to repatriate Syrian refugees unless they voluntarily choose to return. AP
    Mr Erdogan has stood out from his rival by promising not to repatriate Syrian refugees unless they voluntarily choose to return. AP
  • Analysts expect Mr Erdogan to win the run-off vote. Getty
    Analysts expect Mr Erdogan to win the run-off vote. Getty

Mr Erdogan, who two weeks ago fell just short of the 50 per cent cut-off needed to avoid the second-round run-off, has taken a comparatively softer approach. However, his once-accepting rhetoric has somewhat changed recently and his government has begun the construction of nearly a quarter of a million housing units to resettle refugees in rebel-held northern Syria.

"It's more logical than Kilicdaroglu's propaganda," said Mr Kaplan, who added that candidates should instead focus on equality and the economy, and not "building their campaign on lies".

On the other side of the road is a shop belonging to Mr Kaplan's friend, Cevat Aydogan – a CHP supporter.

The latter argues that the influx of refugees was a result of Mr Erdogan's open-door policy in Turkey, and as such it should be an administration led by Mr Kilicdaroglu that helps them return – even if he doesn't necessarily agree with his approach.

And while Mr Kaplan and Mr Aydogan are likely to vote for different candidates on Sunday, they do agree on one thing: "When I am voting, the Syrian refugees' issue is not one of the elements that leads me to vote for someone. It doesn't matter to me," said Mr Aydogan, 60. "We want democracy and peace, it doesn't matter who comes to the post."

Nonetheless, anti-refugee sentiment is still high. Mohamed, 17, who gave only his first name, is a Syrian Kurd from Afrin, an area bordering Turkey. He works in Istanbul at a textile shop. He has lived in Turkey for 12 years and says he is much more fluent in Turkish now than he is in Arabic or Kurdish.

The Tarlabasi neighbourhood of Istanbul has long been a poor area of Turkey's largest city, and a home for those fleeing conflict. Jamie Prentis / The National
The Tarlabasi neighbourhood of Istanbul has long been a poor area of Turkey's largest city, and a home for those fleeing conflict. Jamie Prentis / The National

"I don't care what Erdogan or Kilicdaroglu say, because we have a plan to return to our village in Syria," he said from a cafe in Tarlabasi, where flags of the main parties fly on separate streets – a sign of the opposing political allegiances here.

Perhaps some of the less hardline views on Syrians in Karlabasi are due to the fact that it has historically been a neighbourhood for people fleeing conflict, and has a high population of Kurds who left south-east Turkey because of the conflict there.

"Kilicdaroglu is wrong to build his politics on Syrian refugees. As you can see, we live together. The Syrians are working like slaves in Turkey. They start in the morning and go home in the evening," said Ahmed Ihlan, a 53-year-old Kurd.

"Instead of talking about Syrians, his approach should be in a more equal way. Instead of building policies on Syrian refugees, if he made a speech or campaign talking about more equality, democracy and how he's going to run the economy it would be better for us – instead of being against Syrians," he added.

But Mr Ihlan's sympathy for Syrian refugees is not prevalent in Karlabasi. Ahmed, 74, said that "Syrians must go," called them traitors and blamed them for rising rent costs

"Of course this [the anti-refugee rhetoric] is one of the elements that led us to decide to return," said Syrian refugee Mohamed "We can't live like this, always in a stress, waiting for decisions by the government."

Whatever residents of Karlabasi feel about refugees, other priorities are likely to take precedence when they head to the polls on Sunday.

Mr Erdogan, the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has been accused of using non-traditional economic policies that have only worsened the financial situation.

Asked why he would vote for Mr Kilicdaroglu and not Mr Erdogan, Nehmet, 61, gave three reasons for and against. He blamed the AKP for exacerbating inequality, nurturing corruption and for damaging the economy.

For the CHP he said: "They will raise our minimum wage, send the foreign immigrants home, and he will treat us equally."

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The specs

Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric

Transmission: n/a

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 659Nm

Price estimate: Dh200,000

On sale: Q3 2022 

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Last 10 NBA champions

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2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

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3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

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Australia

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Saudi Arabia

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

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Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra

Director: ​Yeon Sang-ho

Rating: 2/5

The biog

Name: Marie Byrne

Nationality: Irish

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption

Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston

Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

 


 

Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

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If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

The%20Color%20Purple
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBlitz%20Bazawule%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFantasia%20Barrino%2C%20Taraji%20P%20Henson%2C%20Danielle%20Brooks%2C%20Colman%20Domingo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Family reunited

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

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Company%20profile
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The lowdown

Bohemian Rhapsody

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee

Rating: 3/5

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

Company profile

Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

Updated: May 27, 2023, 7:13 AM