Although each migration experienced in different times and places has its own unique aspects, migration processes share common experiences and similar challenges; migrants struggle not only with the difficulties of the relocation process, but also with the negative attitudes and prejudices they encounter in the communities where they settle. The Syrian civil war after 2011 and the turmoil in the Middle East and Asia have increased international migration to Turkey, making Turkey the country hosting the most refugees in the world. This intense migration has reinforced social exclusion, discrimination, xenophobia, and othering towards refugees from different cultures. This study focuses on Syrian, Iraqi, and Afghan refugees who arrived in Turkey after 2011 and settled in Düzce; it is based on in-depth interviews conducted using qualitative methods between 2021 and 2022 with a total of 90 individuals. Thirty-nine of the participants were male refugees under temporary or international protection, while 51 were tradespeople, local residents interacting with refugees, and representatives of institutions. The findings show that refugees are marginalized in various ways in social life, daily practices, the media, and institutional spaces; this marginalization stems largely from criminalizing discourses, negative perceptions, and widespread misinformation generated by security concerns.
Migration, Refugees, Othering, Social Media