Why We Should Pay More Attention to Hatay After the Earthquake

History of Hatay

Hatay; As the first settlement, it started with the highly civilized Turanian tribe Hatti from Central Asia. It continued with the Hittites (Etiler- Ancestors), also a Turanian tribe from Central Asia. The discovery of the statue of the last Hittite King Shuppiluliuma in Hatay during excavations is the greatest evidence of this. 

After Alexander the Great conquered this geography, Antakya was re-established by Seleucus I. Seleucus, one of Alexander's commanders and Seleucus(1) King of Seleucus, whose mother was Turkish, in 300 BC on the edge of the Asi River by demolishing the old settlements on the edge of the Asi River. Everyone knows that Defne (Harbiye) was founded before Antakya and is a city of culture. These two historical cities are today the two central districts of Hatay province.

The city, which attracted everyone with its orchards, magnificent buildings and monuments, was decorated with theaters, inns, public baths, marble streets, temples and various statues. During the Roman period, the city joined the Roman Empire and became the capital of the Syrian province.(64 BC)

Christianity spread for the first time outside Jerusalem in Antioch. It was also in this city that the name "Christian" was first given to those who believed in Jesus Christ. The first Church of Christianity (St. Pierre (St. Petreus) Church) is in Hatay. Hatay also played a major role in the spread of Islam. The first mosque of Muslims in Anatolia (Habibi Neccar Mosque 638) was also built in Hatay.

Later, the region came under the rule of Persia, Sassanid, Byzantine, Abbasid Tolun sons, Aqsids, Hamdan sons, Seljuks and Crusaders. With the arrival of the Mamluks in 1261, it became a very important city and the Turkish population dominated every part of the region. In 1516, during the Egyptian Expedition of Yavuz Sultan Selim, the region came under Ottoman rule. Although some of them were former Arabs, during the Ottoman Empire, Arabs from Syria and further south settled in Hatay and its surroundings, which had very fertile agricultural areas and was an important port city. Despite this, all but the Turkish population in Hatay have remained a minority.

It is known that the majority of the Arabs who rebelled against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War took a stance against the Ottoman Empire on the side of the British.

On October 30, 1918, despite the signing of the Armistice Treaty of Mudros, the Allied Powers occupied Antakya and its vicinity in violation of the provisions of the treaty. The first armed clash with the armed people who responded to this occupation took place in Dörtyol, Hatay. The first bullet of the national struggle was fired in Dörtyol on December 19, 1918. Meanwhile, in the region, which was under the occupation of the states of conflict, the gangs established around Antakya, Altınözü and Yayladağı clashed with the occupiers, while the Turkish Army was fighting the Greeks in the west. Hatay was given a special status in the treaty with the conflict states and Turks were granted cultural rights under a special administration. When the conflict states violated the Ankara Treaty and transferred Iskenderun to Syria, Atatürk named this region "HATAY" since it was a Turkish homeland for at least 10 thousand years and took the Hatay issue to the League of Nations.

"The Hatay issue is my personal cause." "The Turkish homeland of forty centuries cannot remain captive in the hands of the enemy." At the end of Atatürk's efforts, elections were held in this region and the State of Hatay was established. The rapidly organized Hatay State immediately strengthened its ties with Turkey. On June 29, 1939, Hatay National Assembly held its last meeting under the presidency of President Tayfur Sökmen, dissolved itself and decided that Hatay would join the Republic of Turkey. On July 23, 1939, the Turkish flag was hoisted at the barracks in Antakya, a handover ceremony was held and Hatay joined Turkey as the 67th province of the Republic of Turkey (Expo'21 Hatay History)

Demographic Structure of Hatay

The current population of Hatay is 1.628.894.

While 538174 people live in the center of Hatay, 109.0720 people reside in the districts, mostly in İskenderun.

The majority of Hatay's population is Turkish. Turks are the majority in İskenderun, Antakya, Dörtyol, Yayladağ, Reyhanlı, Erzin, Belen, Kırıkhan and Hassa districts. The Turkish population is composed of Nomads, Turkmens and Native Turks (Mamluk Turks). The majority of nomadic Turkmens came from Kahramanmaraş and Elbistan. The most populous tribe is the Abacılı tribe. It is scattered in every region of Hatay. Turks from Crete and the Balkans settled in Erzin.

The largest Arab population in Turkey lives in Hatay. Almost the entire population of Defne and Samandağ districts are Alawites (2). There are also Arabs in Iskenderun and Antakya Center. However, they are not large in population. No district has a majority Sunni Arab population. It is also evident that the proportion of the Arab population has increased with the influx of Arabs after the events in Syria.

Hatay also has a small Christian population. There is one Armenian settlement. The only Armenian village in Turkey is located in Hatay. There is also a Christian Arab population (two villages). Most of the Kurds living in Hatay are working people from abroad. Their share in the total population is around 4%. In Dörtyol and Erzin districts they are more numerous than in other districts.

I am not writing this for ethnic discrimination, on the contrary, I am writing to show that people from so many different roots and cultures have been living together in peace and tranquility for thousands of years, and that they will continue to do so in the future.

They are all simple citizens loyal to their homeland, flag and country. Although there have been some incidents caused by refugees, Hatay is one of the safest cities of our country with this structure.

The importance of Hatay

Being a part of the Silk Road, Hatay is an important trade and logistics center. With a 186 km. coastline, Hatay's land border is 296 km. and its longest border neighbor is Syria. In the north, it is neighboring Gaziantep, Osmaniye and Adana provinces. There is also the port of İskenderun opening to the sea and 2 land border gates.

Hatay is of great geopolitical importance due to its position on the roads extending in the east-west and north-south directions. It is also a strategic asset that connects Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean with its location on the Amanos Mountains, which spread over an area of 4000 km2 and rise to 1500-2000 meters in places, with only the Belen pass, the Amik Plain in the east and the Iskenderun Port opening to the Mediterranean in the west. It is the only piece of land that prevents the possible connection of the so-called Kurdish state dreamed of by the PKK/PYD terrorist organization, which is in negotiations with the US and Russia at all times. 

Iskenderun Port is the junction point of all oil pipelines passing through our country. The storage areas of all domestic and foreign companies operating in our country are also in this region. The port is also the center of the trade of world countries to the Middle East by sea. In this respect, it has a strategic importance.

Due to its location, Hatay is of great importance for Turkey's national security and the geopolitics of the surrounding geography. In the event that the Greater Middle East Project (BOP), which the US is trying to realize with the Arab Spring process, is combined with North Africa, it is clear how important Hatay's position is for the US in terms of controlling Iran, Iraq, Syria, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey. 

The Amik Plain is like the twin brother of Çukurova. Hatay's soil is very fertile. It is another matter that it has magnificent agricultural lands where every kind of agricultural product we can think of, from tobacco to cotton, citrus fruits to olives, is grown.

With this characteristic, Hatay is a piece of our lives that we must hold tightly for the continuation of our dominance in Anatolia.

What to Expect in Hatay and its Surroundings after the Earthquake Disaster

Especially in Antakya, Iskenderun, Reyhanlı and Kırıkhan, where Turks live, there has been very serious destruction. All residents of the center of Antakya have evacuated their homes. People from all over Hatay, including the districts, are leaving the city. Some of these people have temporarily moved in with relatives, but a large number have left Hatay for good. This is the information I received from my acquaintances living in Hatay and exposed to the disaster. The fact that these migrations are higher than in the regions most affected by the earthquake, where the ethnically Turkish population is in the majority, makes me worry that they will upset the balance. If more refugees come across our borders after the earthquake and settle in these regions, the situation will be even more dire. My biggest fear is that asylum seekers will settle in the evacuated solid buildings and occupy the property of the citizens. In order to protect our people, to protect our culture, our history, the demographic structure of Hatay, and accordingly the Turkish presence in Anatolia, I believe that a series of measures must be taken quickly in order not to encourage the state and terrorist organizations that have evil ambitions on our country.

- First of all, the number of military units in Hatay should be increased and illegitimate entry into our country should be prevented.

- The asylum seekers in Hatay should be sent away, or if they cannot be sent away, they should be moved to other provinces and their concentration should be prevented.

- The construction of permanent residences should start in Hatay, and those who have left Hatay should be allowed to return to Hatay as soon as possible.

- Incentives should be provided to accelerate people's return to Hatay and make the region attractive again.

- Business areas in Hatay should be expanded and the private sector should be encouraged to invest in the region. 

- Hatay should become a center of trade with the Middle East once again.

- Hatay's agricultural potential should be revitalized, agriculture should be supported, incentives should be increased and people should return to their hometowns.

- Hatay should not be left unattended. The state must mobilize in Hatay with all its means.

Let us not forget that Hatay is Atatürk's legacy. Atatürk's personal cause is also our personal cause.

References

- Hatay Governorship Website

- Expo'21 Hatay History

- Dag.Gen.Tr.

- Hatay Culture Portal

- Etnikce.com

1st Seleucid State:  Hellenistic empire founded by Seleucus I, one of Alexander's generals, when the Macedonian Empire disintegrated after Alexander's death.

2.Nusayri: The name given to Alevi Arabs.