CMEPS-J Report No. 63 (July 22, 2022)
Ziad ALAHMAD
I. The aim of the report
This report provides a broad overview of the various viewpoints held by the Syrian and Turkish communities toward each other. This report compares similar questions from the research project “Opinion Survey for Syrian and Turkish Communities in Turkey (Gaziantep, 2022).” (CMEPS-J Report No. 61).
II. Comparison procedures
Even though this report is a simple comparison report, a few procedures took place to show an accurate and precise comparison, as follows:
As the original surveys include many multi-select questions, providing the comparison based on the aggregate number of responses only could show misleading charts. Accordingly, the charts use the percentages of the responses as a Value Axis, based on the total answers to each question. It is worth noting that the missing values (NA) were shown in the charts but excluded from the percentage calculations.
III. Aggregated results
Interview Location
L01. District (N=529)
L01. District (N=529)
L02. Neighborhood (N=529)
L02. Neighborhood (N=529)
Bio Data
B01. Gender (N=529)
B01. Gender (N=529)
B02. Age (N=529)
B03. Age (N=529)
B03. Marital Status (N=529)
B01. Marital Status (N=529)
B03-01. If “Married”, “Divorced” or “Widowed” in B03, do you have children? (N=365)
B03-03. If “Married”, “Divorced” or “Widowed” in B03, where did you get married? (N=360)
B03-02. If “Yes” in B03-1, how many children do you have? (N=339)
B03-04. If “Yes” in B03-3, how many children are with you in Turkey? (N=318)
B04. Do you/your wife/children currently study in schools/universities? (N=529)
Q04-01. Do you / your wife / children currently study in Turkish schools / universities? (N=529)
B04-01. If “Married”, “Divorced” or “Widowed” in B03, are you married to a Syrian national? (N=365)
B03-02. If “Married”, “Divorced” or “Widowed” in B03, are you married to a Turkish citizen? (N=360)
B06. Educational level (N=529)
B04. Educational level (N=529)
B07. What is your profession? (N=529)
Q01-01. What is your current job? (N=529)
B12. Do you or any of your family members have a chronic disease or a permanent disability? (N=529)
B22. Do you or one of your family members have a chronic disease or a permanent disability? (N=529)
B13. Do you own a car? (N=529)
B16. Did you own a car in Syria? (N=529)
B14 . What is your current shelter status? (N=529)
B18. Shelter status in Turkey (N=529)
Local’s Perspectives
Q01-02. Do you think Syrians became part of the Turkish community? (N=529)
Q06-02. Do you feel you are a part of the host community? (N=529)
Q01-03. Do you think Syrians are the cause of the economic crisis in Turkey? (N=529)
Q01-05. Do you think Syrians are the cause for the economic crises in Turkey? (N=529)
Q01-04. Do you think Syrians cause troubles and threaten the safety of Turkey? (N=529)
Q08-01. Do you think Syrians cause trouble and threaten the safety of Turkey? (N=529)
Q01-10. How do you think the Turkish community accepts Syrians compared to last year? (N=529)
Q07-09. ow do you think the Turkish community think about Syrians compared to last year? (N=529)
Language and culture
Q02-05. To which extent are you familiar with the Syrian community? (N=529)
Q07-08. To what extent do you know the Turkish community? (N=529)
Q02-06. To which extent do you believe Syrians know and understand about the Turkish community? (N=529)
Q07-07. To what extent do you think the Turkish community know the Syrian community? (N=529)
Q02-07. Which one do you think is more welcomed and accepted by the Turkish community? (N=529)
Q07-10. Which one do you think is more welcomed and accepted by the Turkish community? (N=529)
Q02-07-01. If “Syrians” in Q02-07, why? (multiselect) (N=150 #314)
Q07-10-01. If “Syrians” in Q07-10, why? (multiselect) (N=188 #538)
Q02-07-02. If “Afghan” in Q02-07, why? (multiselect) (N=19 #27)
Q07-10-02. If “Afghan” in Q07-10, why? (multiselect) (N=5 #7)
Communication
Q03-02. What percentage of the Syrians living in your neighbourhood compared to Turkish? (N=529)
Q05-01. What percentage of the Syrians living in your neighbourhood compared to Turkish? (N=529)
Q03-05. Do you feel agitated when you see the Syrians outside? (N=529)
Q06-09. Do you feel agitated when dealing with Turkish people outside? (N=529)
Q03-06. Did you participate in the integration program of the DGMM or other NGO? (N=529)
Q06-01. Did you participate in the integration program of the DGMM or any other NGO? (N=529)
Q03-06-01. If “Yes” in Q03-06, did it have an impact on your daily life and dealing with the Syrian community? (N=21 #21)
Q06-01-01. If “Yes” in Q06-01, does it impact your daily life and dealing with the Turkish community? (N=176 #176)
Q03-07. Do your Syrian neighbours greet you when they see you outside? (N=529)
Q06-10. Do you greet your Turkish neighbours when you see them outside? (N=529)
Q03-08. Do you greet your Syrian neighbours when you see them outside? (N=529)
Q06-11. Do your Turkish neighbours greet you when they see you outside? (N=529)
Q03-09. Did you encounter any misunderstandings or problems with the Syrian people around you? (N=529)
Q06-12. Did you encounter any misunderstanding or problem with the Turkish people around you? (N=529)
Q03-09-01. If “yes” or “Recently graduated” in B04, do you/your children have Syrian friends in the school/university? (N=308)
Q04-01-02. If “Yes” or “Recently graduated” in Q04-01, do you / your children have Turkish friends in the school / university? (N=292)
Q03-09-02. If “yes” or “Recently graduated” in B04, do you/your children face any discrimination in schools/universities? (N=308)
Q04-01-03. If “Yes” or “Recently graduated” in Q04-01, do you / your children face any discrimination in schools / universities? (N=292)
Q03-10. What do you do when a misunderstanding or problem happens with the Syrian people around you? (N=529)
Q06-12. Did you encounter any misunderstanding or problem with the Turkish people around you? (N=529)
Q03-13. What do you think is the reason for the recent discrimination against Syrians in Turkey? (multiselect) (N=529 #1128)
Q06-15. In your opinion, why does the Turkish community show racism and discrimination against Syrians? (multiselect) (N=529 #1429)
Q03-16. Do you have close Syrian friends? (N=529)
Q06-03. Do you have any close Turkish friends? (N=529)
Q03-16-01. If “Yes, one only”, “Yes, more than one, less than five”, “Yes, more than five, less than ten” or “More than ten in Q03-16, where did you meet them? (multiselect) (N=139 #217)
Q06-03-01. Where did you meet them? (If the answer is “Yes, one only”, “Yes, more than one, less than five”, “Yes, more than five, less than ten” or “More than ten” in the question Q06-03) (multiselect) (N=336 #516)
Q03-17. By living the same risk and having the same fears, how did the COVID_19 pandemic affect the relationship between Turkish and Syrian communities? (N=529)
Q06-20. By living the same risk and having the same fears, how did the COVID_19 pandemic affect the relationship between Turkish and Syrian communities? (N=529)
Q03-18. In which field do you think Syrians in Turkey are having difficulty? (multiselect) (N=529 #1319)
Q06-19. What is the most difficult thing for you in Turkey? (multiselect) (N=529 #1591)
Economic impact
Q04-01. What do you think about your family’s monthly income in comparison with the average –4253 TL (N=529)
Q01-02. What do you think about your family’s monthly income in comparison with the average –4253 TL (If the answer in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.) ”, “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”, “Employee in the agriculture sector”, “Employee in the service / sales sector”, “Employee in the manufacture sector”, “Employee in the religious sector”, “Teacher” or “Government official”) (N=253)
Q04-02. Are you satisfied with your monthly income? (N=529)
Q01-03. Are you satisfied with your current monthly income? (If the answer in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.) ”, “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”, “Employee in the agriculture sector”, “Employee in the service / sales sector”, “Employee in the manufacture sector”, “Employee in the religious sector”, “Teacher” or “Government official”) (N=253)
Q04-02-04. Do you have Syrian co-workers at your workplace? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector) ”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.) ”, “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”, “An employee in the agriculture sector”, “An employee in the service/sales sector”, “An employee in the manufacturing sector”, “An employee in the religious sector”, “Government official” or “Teacher”) (N=266)
Q01-03-01. Do you have Turkish co-workers at your workplace? (If the answer in Q01-01 is “Employee in the agriculture sector”, “Employee in the service / sales sector”, “Employee in the manufacture sector”, “Employee in the religious sector”, “Teacher” or “Government official”) (N=172)
Q04-02-05. If owning a business, in which field is it? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”) (N=110)
Q01-03-03-01. If “Yes” in Q01-03-03, in which sector? (N=85)
Q04-02-06. If owning a business, do you have Syrian staff? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”) (N=110)
Q01-03-10. If owning a business, do you have any Turkish staff? (If the answered in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”) (N=81)
Q04-02-08. If owning a business, what is the percentage of the Syrian costumers? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”) (N=110)
Q01-03-13. If owning a business, what is the percentage of the Turkish costumers? (If the answered in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”) (N=81)
Q04-02-09. If owning a business, do you wish to have more Syrian costumers? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”) (N=110)
Q01-03-14. If owning a business, do you wish to get more Turkish costumers? (If the answered in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”) (N=81)
Q04-02-10. If owning a business, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? (If the answer in B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector”) (multiselect) (N=110 #307)
Q01-03-19. If owning a business, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? (multiselect) (If the answered in Q01-01 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I have my own work in the agriculture sector”) (N=81 #200)
Q04-02-11. If owning a business, what are the solutions you used to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your business? (for those who answered B07 is “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I am self-employed in a professional trade (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I am self-employed in the agriculture sector” in B02) (multiselect) (N=110 #190)
Q01-03-20. If I have my own business, what are the solutions you used to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on your business? (multiselect) (for those who answered “I have my own business (trade, industry, craft, and service sector)”, “I have my own business as a professional (lawyer, engineer, doctor, educator, etc.)” or “I have my own work in the agriculture sector” in Q01-01) (N=81 #119)
Syrian-owned businesses
Q05-05. Would you feel more comfortable buying from Syrian businesses if the salesman was Turkish? (N=529)
Q06-05. Would you buy more from local Turkish shops / chain shops if they had Syrian staff? (N=529)
Q05-06. Would you feel more comfortable buying from Syrian businesses if the salesman spoke Turkish? (N=529)
Q06-06. Would you buy more from local Turkish shops / chain shops if the salesman spoke Arabic? (N=529)
Terms and labels
Q06-01. For you personally, what comes to your mind when you hear the word refugee? (multiselect) (N=529 #1283)
Q11-07. For you personally, what image comes to your mind when you hear the word refugee? (multiselect) (N=529 #1255)
Q06-03. (As a definition, according to Geneva Refugee Convention 1951, the term refugee is used to describe the people who left their home countries because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality” and they benefit from various services and rights.) Do you think Syrians are refugees in Turkey (status, based on the definition; why they moved to Turkey)? (N=529)
Q11-08. (As a definition, according to Geneva Refugee Convention 1951, the term refugee is used to describe the people who left their home countries because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality” and they benefit from various services and rights.) Do you think you are a refugee in Turkey (according to the previous definition; the reason for moving to Turkey)? (N=529)
Q06-04. (In practice, the word refugee is stereotyped and used to show that a group of people are in need, and they are the source of the problems, depend on assistance for living and are not productive in the host community.) Do you think Syrians are refugees in Turkey (according to the previous definition, as a living condition; they are a burden and live on humanitarian assistance only)? (N=529)
Q11-09. (In practice, the word refugee is stereotyped and used to show that a group of people are in need, they are the source of the problems, depend on assistance for living, and they are not productive in the host community.) Do you think you are a refugee in Turkey following the previous explanation (according to the previous definition, as a living condition; they are a burden and live on humanitarian assistance only)? (N=529)
Q06-05. Which one of the following is the most appropriate term to describe Syrians in Turkey? (multiselect) (N=529 #887)
Q11-13. If we were to replace the word “refugee” with another, which one of the following would represent you better? (multiselect) (N=529)
Religious factor and identity
Q08-01. Do you realize Syrians try to hide their Syrian identity in Turkey while dealing with you? (N=529)
Q11-01. Do you try to hide that you are Syrian when dealing with Turkish community? (N=529)
Q08-02. What brings you together with Syrians? (multiselect) (N=529 #890)
Q11-03. What brings you together with Turkish community? (multiselect) (N=529 #1000)
Q08-03. To what extent sharing the same religion with the Syrian community is important for you to live in harmony with Syrians? (N=529)
Q11-04. To what extent sharing the same religion with the Turkish community is important for you to live with them in harmony? (N=529)
Q08-04. Would the Turkish community show the same hospitality to Syrians if they were Christians or Jews? (N=529)
Q11-06. Would the Turkish community show the same hospitality to Syrians if they were Christians or Jews? (N=529)
Q08-05. What do you think about Syrian community’s religious practices? (N=529)
Q11-05. What do you think about Turkish community’s religious practices? (N=529)
Rights
Q09-01. Do you think Syrians have equal rights to you in Turkey? (N=529)
Q09-01. Do you think you have equal rights as Turkish citizens? (N=529)
Q09-02. Do you think Syrians in Turkey and other foreigners in Turkey have equal rights? (N=529)
Q09-02. Do you think you have equal rights as other foreigners living in Turkey? (N=529)
Migration management
Q10-01. How good is the Turkish government managing the Syrian issue in Turkey? (N=529)
Q06-17. To what extent do you think the Turkish government is managing the Syrians’ issue in Turkey? (N=529)
Q10-07. If not Turkey, in your opinion, which countries should be responsible for the Syrians? (multiselect) (N=529 #1363)
Q11-14. If not Turkey, in your opinion, which countries should be responsible for the Syrians? (multiselect) (N=529 #918)
Q10-08. From which sources do you get the news about the situation of Syrians in Turkey? (multiselect) (N=529 #1134)
Q11-15. Which sources do you get the news about the situation of Syrians in Turkey from? (multiselect) (N=529 #1153)
