Turkey’s president accuses opposition of stoking racism after anti-Syrian rioting erupts

Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused opposition parties of stoking xenophobia and racism after residents in a neighborhood in central Turkey set Syrian-owned shops on fire. Erdogan’s comments on Monday followed the rioting in the central Kayseri province that erupted after reports that a Syrian refugee there had allegedly sexually harassed a 7-year-old Syrian girl. Outraged residents overturned cars and set shops ablaze and called on Syrians to leave late on Sunday night. The interior minister said 67 people were detained. The violence against Syrians drew a backlash in opposition-held areas of northwestern Syria, including those controlled by Turkish-backed forces.