An analysis of anti-Syrian’s signature campaign in Türkiye: The cases from Change.org

Yıl 2023, Sayı: 65, 109 - 133, 30.12.2023

Şükrü Şimdi

https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2023-1274115

Öz

This study aims to examine the individual actions taken against Syrian immigrant through online signature campaigns launched on the Change.org website and their role in inciting hate speech and related crimes in Türkiye. These campaigns represent one of the largest anti-immigrant petitions globally. To collect the data, a basic search was conducted on the Change.org website using the keyword ‘Syrian(s),’ which yielded 154 signature campaigns. Campaign texts were analyzed thematically through the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA) of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The main themes identified were the stigmatization of Syrian identity in virtual spaces, the reproduction of stereotypes within migrants, guest discourse, and cultural racism. The findings indicate that the campaigns frequently employ discriminatory stereotypical categories, portraying Syrians as an economic burden, potential/imaginary enemies, not willing to integrate, betrayers of their homeland, fleers from the war, and even terrorists. The expression of Syrian(s) is framed as a stigmatized and ethnicized group identity rather than a social identification, mainly reflecting on Syrian men as being immoral and fleeing from war. The results also show that this identity is equipped with a hegemonic masculinity construct over a gendered perception.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Syrian identity, stigmatization, stereotypes, cultural racism, Change. org

Türkiye’de Suriyeli karşıtı imza kampanyasının analizi: Change.org örneği

Öz

Bu çalışma, Change.org internet sitesi üzerinden başlatılan çevrimiçi imza kampanyaları aracılığıyla Suriyeli göçmenlere yönelik bireysel eylemleri ve bunların Türkiye’de nefret söylemini ve buna bağlı nefreti teşvik etmekteki rolünü incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu imza metinleri dünya çapındaki en büyük göçmen karşıtı sanal imza kampanyalarını temsil ediyor. Çalışmada verileri toplamak için Change.org web sitesinde Suriyeli(ler) anahtar kelimesi kullanılarak basit bir web araması yapıldı. Bunun sonucunda 154 imza kampanyasına ulaşıldı. Kampanya metinleri, Eleştirel Söylem Analizinin Söylem Tarihsel Yaklaşımı kullanılarak tematik olarak analiz edildi. Belirlenen ana temalar, Suriyeli kimliğinin sanal ortamda damgalanması, göçmenler arasında stereotiplerin yeniden üretilmesi, misafir söylemi ve kültürel ırkçılık olarak saptandı. Bulgular, kampanyalarda Suriyelilerin ekonomik bir yük, potansiyel/hayali düşmanlar, entegre olmaya istekli olmayanlar, vatanlarına ihanet edenler, savaştan kaçanlar ve hatta teröristler olarak tasvir edildiği ayrımcı basmakalıp kategorilerin sıklıkla kullanıldığını göstermektedir. Suriyeli(ler) ifadesi, sosyal bir kimlikten ziyade damgalanmış ve etnikleştirilmiş bir grup kimliği olarak çerçeveleniyor ve esas olarak Suriyeli erkeklerin ahlaksız ve savaştan kaçan kişiler olduğu yansıtılıyor. Etnik kategorizasyon sonucu Suriyeliler damgalanmış bir kimlik algısına tabi tutuluyor. Sonuçlar aynı zamanda bu kimliğin toplumsal cinsiyet algısı üzerinde hegemonik erkeklik kurgusuyla donatıldığını da göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Suriyeli kimliği, damgalama, stereotipler, kültürel ırkçılık, Change.org

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