Experiences of Discrimination Among African Migrants in Turkiye: Anti-Migrant Sentiment and Racism in the Global South

Background and purpose: Migration to Turkiye from diverse African nations has increased due to the securitzation of migration policies in the Western world and expanding economic relations within the global south. Turkiye has fostered migration opportunities while also tightening regulations on residency application processes and deportation rules. This study examines the experiences of African migrants residing in Istanbul through focus groups, with an aim to examine migrant resources and challenges. Discrimination emerged as a major characteristic of migrant experience in Turkiye. This study examines the lived experiences of discrimination among African migrant groups

Methods: Migrants from countries in West, East, and Central Africa were recruited through community networks and community-based research assistants. Focus groups were conducted with diverse migrants, including workers in transnational business networks and informal labor settings, students in higher education, and women from diverse cultural backgrounds. Open-ended questions explored migrant experiences and challenges in Turkiye. Seven focus groups were conducted with 34 participants. Countries of origin included Somalia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Burundi, and The Gambia. After transcription, focus groups were coded line-by-line to identify structured codes and key themes related to discrimination.

Results: Examining discrimination, themes included a lack of cultural empathy, police harassment, and unfair treatment within education, housing, business, and public settings. For instance, participants described, “there is no way you’ll walk past the police without him asking you for your papers,” and “landlords are more harsh on these groups because they are black.” Attending to inter-cultural empathy, participants described mixed experiences with Turkish communities. Turkish people were described as kind and curious, yet ignorant and offensive questions were common. For example, "They ask me, ‘Do you have a house?’ ‘Do you eat food?’ ‘How did you come here?’ Weird questions." Participants described stereotypical depictions of people from Africa as widespread, with media portrayals amplifying simplistic depictions. For example, “...you see the children with a runny nose and flies all over... like Africans don’t have anything.” Discrimination experiences were gendered, with women being targeted with sexual harassment. A participant described, “...there are a few that approach you with respect and dignity. But others always talk to you like you are looking for men...”

Conclusions and implications: Migrants from diverse African countries residing in Turkiye experience pervasive discrimination within social settings and across institutions. Participants pointed to travel and exposure to other cultures as valuable for individual awareness and cultural sensitivity among host country citizens. They also indicated the power of media and discursive systems of cultural hiearcharcy in portraying Orientalist imaginations about the African continent. Needed policy solutions include addressing cultural co-existence, police harressment, and linguistic barries at societal and institutional levels, particularly at migration and social service centers. Social programs that promote inter-cultural interactions and resources for migrant support are also essential.