Somali women living in the Mediterranean province of Isparta protested in front of the governor’s office Wednesday, claiming they have been discriminated against by landlords and cannot find houses to rent.
“They do not rent to us because we are black and have many children,” the women said in their statement, which was reported by news agencies Thursday. “We do not behave [toward foreigners] like that in Somalia,” they added.
Somalis living in boarding houses said their rental contracts expire Dec. 31 and none of the landlords in the city would agree to rent to them. Twenty people appealed to the state for help with the situation, speaking on behalf of 400 women and children from Somalia who came to Turkey to escape their country’s ongoing civil war.
Members of the protesting group held banners that read, “Our hotel is forcing us to leave,” “Protect us!” or “Everyone sends their greetings to the governor,” saying they wanted the provincial governor to hear their voices. The demonstrators continued shouting despite police efforts to calm the group down, reports said.
Deputy Gov. Tahir Demir, who also serves as the province’s social aid director, asked to talk to the refugees and reportedly met with two of their representatives. During the meeting in the Governor’s Office, other refugees started to sing the Somali national anthem.
“There are some advertisements saying people have houses to rent, but whenever they realize we are from Somalia, they refuse us,” said one of the protesters, who said she has seven children and will be homeless soon due to having to leave the boarding house. “Are you Muslims or not?” she asked.
After Demir promised their accommodation problems would be solved, members of the group were taken back to their boarding house in official cars.
‘Worried for no reason’
Deputy Gov. Demir said none of the refugees suffer from being homeless. “We provide housing, heating, food and drink,” he said. “It is not clear that we can make an agreement with the owner of the boarding house. I believe that the protest strengthens the owner’s position.”
Demir said Isparta is a very sensitive province when it comes to taking in refugees. “None of the women will be forced to live outside; they worry for no reason,” he said.
