Tag Archives: refugee camps

Turkey Silences Syrian Refugees’ Stories

Aug 6th, 2011

Turkey Silences Syrian Refugees’ Stories

In the refugee camps along Turkey’s border with Syria, at least five babies born to Syrian women have been named Recep Tayyip,  in honor of the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. They are grateful to Turkey for opening its border to more than 15,000 refugees fleeing the violence next door. But at the same time, many refugees feel like prisoners in the refugee camps. While Turkey positions itself as a leading democracy in the Middle East, the refugees are not allowed to leave the camps — or talk to journalists. From the Yayladagi tent city, on the Turkish – Syrian border, Matthew Brunwasser reports.