Filiz Zeyrek/JINHA

ADANA - "We don't want citizenship, we want to return our lands." said Syrian women by reacting to discuss about grant citizenship to Syrian refugees.

Discussion about granting citizenship to Syrian refugees has continued after the announcement of President Tayyip Erdogan. Some refugee women in Adana indicate that they would lean towards the citizenship, if "equality" is ensured, while others want to return their lands soon. Alime Med came to Adana with her five children from Aleppo. She said, "Five years ago, I lost my husband in Syria due to illness. My three children work in various jobs in order to provide education to my other two children. Rents are very high. If we can work with social insurant and live on equal terms, being citizenship will be nice. We want to also have all legal rights of citizens in Turkey. If my children have education in Turkey, we won't return to Syria."

Vahide Ahmet from Rojava, meanwhile, said that she doesn't believe something would be changed if citizenship is granted to them. Vahide said, "We are waiting for liberation of Rojava. If Rojava is liberated, I won't stay here even one more day." Vahide stated that her husband and children are working and she pointed out how cost of living is high and she underlined that they are seen as low-cost labors. She said, "We have very bad days here. Life was easier in Syria. I want to spend my all life there."

Meren Kurti is another Syrian woman, who said that she had to leave her home. Meren said that they first want to return Rojava; however, they can stay in Turkey if the conditions of citizenship are good. She said, "I want to return Syria, if the war is ended. However, I don't believe the war will be over. I don't believe Turkey will grant citizenship to us. They don't do anything for us, they just talk."

(dc/mg/gd)