Syrian refugee recounts night of Turkish coup attempt as a second homeland

On the night of the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, millions of Syrians, who had sought refuge from the conflict in their homeland, experienced a profound sense of solidarity and fear alongside their Turkish hosts. Many Syrians found a compassionate welcome in Turkey, with some Turks drawing parallels between their own history and the early days of Islam, referring to Syrians as "muhajirun" (emigrants) and themselves as "Ansar" (helpers).

The Syrian regime, led by Bashar Assad, viewed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a staunch adversary. During the coup attempt, the Syrian regime actively supported the putschists, displaying what the author describes as "Schadenfreude" over the events unfolding in Turkey. However, for Syrians living in Turkey, the night was experienced as a direct threat to their adopted home.

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You are the muhajirun (the earliest Muslims who migrated from Mecca to Medina with the Prophet Muhammad), and we are the Ansar (native citizens of Medina, who welcomed and supported the Prophet Muhammad)?

One Syrian refugee, who arrived in Turkey in 2014 and considers it a second homeland, recounts being with their Turkish family when news of the coup attempt broke. Heeding Prime Minister Erdoğan's call for citizens to take to the streets, the author joined a group of Turks in Üsküdar Square, attempting to reach the Bosphorus Bridge. Despite the road closures, they protested, chanting slogans in Arabic and broken Turkish, driven by a deep understanding of what military rule and the violation of democracy mean.

The author emphasizes the personal significance of the night, stating, "I had chosen Türkiye as my second homeland since arriving there as a refugee in 2014. And I was absolutely unwilling to lose my homeland a second time under military boots." This sentiment was echoed by many Syrians who felt a strong connection to Turkey's fate. The experience culminated in a visit to the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge, formerly the Bosphorus Bridge, and its museum, which preserves the memory of the Turkish people's resistance against the coup.

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I had chosen Türkiye as my second homeland since arriving there as a refugee in 2014. And I was absolutely unwilling to lose my homeland a second time under military boots.