Earlier, protests erupted in a city in the Turkish province of Denizli over a notorious case of six Syrian men who sexually abused an underage Turkish girl. The protests led to the expulsion of nearly 30 Syrian families from the city.
The owner of a small store in Cinar in Turkey’s Denizli province put up a sign saying that migrants from Syria, Iran and Afghanistan were banned from his shop and would be beaten otherwise. A photo of the controversial sign was uploaded online by a Syrian migrant and surfaced in local media.
“Those arriving from Syria, Iran, Afghanistan are banned from entering and shopping in this store. In case you still do — you will be beaten,” the sign read.
According to the local media outlet Evrensel, police arrested the store’s owner after information about the sign became public. He is reportedly facing charges of instigating violence and incitement of ethnic hatred. The sign has been removed.
Previously, another city in the same Turkish province, Kale, was engulfed by protests after one Turkish and six Syrian men were charged with sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl. Residents of Kale gathered in front of the city’s courthouse and attempted to attack the Syrian suspects. At least 30 Syrian families were moved out of Denizli province, as many Syrians were attacked by protesters across the city.