The religious context of social acceptance and exclusion practices encountered by Syrian refugees in Diyarbakir

Migrations, which has emerged as a result of the increase in wars and conflicts, the development of transportation and communication facilities, globalization, economic and political moves of states and transnational companies, especially in the last century, emerges as an important dynamic of social changes throughout the world. Although other factors mentioned above had an impact on the process, the Syrian migration, the main reason of which was the ongoing war and conflicts for the last ten years, created a global movement; but Turkey was most affected by this. Because the highest number of Syrian refugees, with close to four million, is in Turkey. Refugees experience social acceptance or exclusion in the country they migrate to, which also affects the local people of the country. Because the effort of "living together", which includes practices of acceptance and exclusion, affects the local people as well as the refugees. In this study, the effect of religion on acceptance or exclusion practices in the refugee-local people interaction in Diyarbakır was investigated. Qualitative research method was used in our research since it is aimed to examine the background of the individual's behavior in society, feelings and thoughts in the said social acceptance or exclusion practices. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 40 people, 20 from Syrians and 20 from local people, in addition to observations in the field. Religion; can be effective in the social acceptance of Syrian refugees with the functions of adding compassion to the person, providing the formation of values and conscience, giving the responsibility of helping the oppressed and the needy, fearing Allah and gaining Allah's approval, providing an environment of solidarity through common rituals, shaping daily life, gaining a lifestyle partnership and forming an ideology. However, economic concerns, thinking that public services are disrupted due to Syrians, negative information obtained from the media about Syrians, ethnic and ideological differences and cultural differences can prevent religious partnership and cause the exclusion of Syrians. In research, religion is not always a dominant factor in the practices of accepting or excluding refugees; It has been concluded that it should be considered together with economic, political and cultural factors. Keywords Syrian Refugees, Diyarbakır, Social Acceptance, Exclusion, Religion.