Students who come to North Cyprus from different parts of the world to receive education are facing many problems both on streets and in government offices.
Speaking to Yenidüzen, international students trying to solve the problems experienced under groups called VOIS and Shelter point out that they are often treated like prostitutes.
The students expressed the problems experienced saying that they were sometimes exposed to xenophobia while waiting at bus stops. The student said “Once a vehicle suddenly stopped next to us and sprayed water at us, and then spat at us.”
Cameroonian student Rictus Franck Ngongang, president of the group called Shelter, an initiative founded by African students, pointed out that multiculturalism is a wealth. Ngongang said, “We contribute to the economy of this country. We deserve a little respect and good behavior.”
Egyptian student Tayam Abdelazim, president of the group VOIS, which is the Voice of International Students, pointed out that international students are often treated like prostitutes and said, “Students get raped, they go to the police, and the police treat them like prostitutes. They even ask them, ‘Are you a prostitute?'”
Calling on the authorities, the heads of both groups stated that the problems in question were system-based and that they could solve the problems by working together.
Talking about the difficulties international students experience when looking for a house to rent, Abdelazim said, “When looking for a place to rent, we do not look at how the region is, we look at how we can pay the rent. Since students do not know the laws, landlords take advantage of this situation. Many students sign contracts in Turkish because they do not know that they can request a contract in English. They sign something they don’t understand,” he was cited as saying.
