“Blame the conditions, not the people sleeping on benches”: Girne mayor

Mayor of Girne Murat Şenkul has stated that people sleeping on the streets or on benches should not be blamed for their situation, but rather the systemic conditions that force them into such circumstances.

In a social media post, Şenkul emphasized that criticizing vulnerable individuals misses the real issue. “The police or municipal officers may remove these people from the streets, but the real problem lies in the underlying conditions,” he wrote.

Şenkul pointed to unemployment and shortcomings in the income verification system as major factors contributing to the problem. He noted that many people arrive in the country through intermediaries promising job opportunities, but once they lose employment, they face significant hardships. He also highlighted that the lack of an effective system requiring proof of sufficient income upon entry continues to exacerbate the issue.

“When people are lying on benches, the focus should not be on them ruining our view, but on the fact that their situation reflects serious flaws in our system and creates public order concerns,” the mayor said.

Reiterating remarks he first made in 2022, Şenkul added: “It is not those lying on benches who should be ashamed, but those responsible for creating the conditions that force them there.”