An analysis of public crimes committed by migrants of Syrian origin in Türkiye
Published online on July 03, 2026
Abstract
{"p"=>"Migration brings about substantial social and cultural changes, impacting both individuals and entire societies. As individuals are directly affected during the migration process, adaptation to a new social environment may complicate processes of social integration. Since 2011, the Middle East region has experienced significant political instability and conflict, resulting in a massive influx of Syrian migrants. This influx has posed complex administrative, economic, and social pressures associated with rapid demographic change and institutional capacity constraints for Türkiye. The findings indicate that, despite their demographic size, Syrian migrants do not exhibit disproportionately high levels of involvement in public order crimes. Their contribution to total recorded incidents remains limited, accounting for approximately 0.94%. However, there is a noticeable gradual increase in their proportional involvement over time. This pattern may be tentatively associated with broader structural conditions, although no causal inference can be made regarding the relationship with socio-economic disadvantage and spatial inequalities. The study concludes that the relationship between migration and crime should be understood within a broader socio-structural framework. It emphasizes the need for cautious interpretation of administrative crime data and underscores the significance of multi-dimensional and evidence-based approaches in addressing migration-related challenges. The findings should therefore be interpreted with caution and require further empirical validation."}