Turkish employer avoids consequences for Syrian worker’s death
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Lack of consequences for a Turkish employer who falsified the cause of death of one of his Syrian employees led to an outpouring of anger among Syrian refugees on Sunday.
Syrian refugee Samir Salah Mosulli, who was working in a bakery in Istanbul, died as a result of being electrocuted during work hours.
Mosulli’s Turkish employer falsified his cause of death to escape responsibility, which caused widespread controversy among Syrian refugees in Turkey, whose numbers are estimated at four million.
Sources added that Mosulli did not have a temporary protection card (Kimlik) or work permit, which allowed Turkish employers to manipulate his cause of death and indicate that he had died of a heart attack.
The sources indicated that the young man’s friends and relatives called on Syrian and Turkish authorities to conduct the necessary investigations, verify surveillance footage, and bring his friends to work as witnesses to confirm the real cause of death.
On social media, Syrian refugees expressed their deep indignation at the Turkish employers who dealt coldly with the young man’s death, with the intention of concealing its cause.
Activists circulated a video clip showing Turkish employers procrastinating in requesting an ambulance to save the young man’s life.
In November, Istanbul-based human rights activist Qais al-Hassan reported to North Press new statistics on
Syrian workers and workplace accidents.
“Occasionally, the Turkish government admits the killing of Syrians or the death of some of them while working,” he said.
“The Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Council documented the death of 207 people who were affected by work accidents throughout Turkey in October, including Syrian workers,” he added.
“According to the Turkish source, nine Syrians lost their lives in separate work accidents throughout Turkey during the past month,” he stated.
“The incidents that led to the death of the Syrian workers varied, from falling from high buildings and experiencing heart attacks, to electric shocks and drowning, and the violence that the workers were exposed to, which reached even the point of murder,” he mentioned.