JINHA

NEWS CENTER – Defenders of migrants' rights held a number of simultaneous demonstrations in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara.Demonstrators demanded an end to hate speech; work for health, education and working opportunities for migrants; self-organized shelters; and an end to borders, calling for "a free world without borders or nations."

According to demonstrators, more than 20,000 migrants lost their lives in the last four months in Turkey—as many as in all of Europe since 1988.

Migrant Solidarity Kitchen, Migrant Solidarity Network, and the platform "Stop Racism and Nationalism," among other migrant solidarity associations, protested neoliberal policies, especially the recent "readmission agreement" signed by President Erdoğan. They called for policies to end hate speech against migrants;health and education services as well rights to travel and work; an end to the borders listed in the 1951 Refugee Convention; and the end of nation-state borders.

Syriza shows signs of implementing exemplary policies for migrants, said the solidarity associations in a joint statement.Syriza intends to give migrants a path to citizenship and have called the border fence along the Maritsa River intended to keep out migrants "a disgrace."

(fk/cm)