In modern times, the term "ghetto" or "getto" refers to areas, primarily in peripheral neighborhoods, where foreigners and minorities tend to reside in groups. While this term is not commonly used in our country, it has gained prevalence, particularly in European countries and the USA. The concept of ghetto, which typically denotes racial segregation and marginalization, has not established itself in our geography.
How did the concept of ghetto and ghetto culture, which mainly involves the collective settlement of immigrant workers in closed neighborhoods, originate in Europe and the USA?
Looking at its historical etymology, "getto," originally known as Ghetto, is an Italian-origin word that emerged in medieval Venice. The Christian population in Venice referred to the back alley where Jews lived, named "Baruthane," as the ghetto. During that time, Baruthane was depicted as a dangerous and unsanitary neighborhood, and this Jewish settlement was named "Ghetto" by other Venetians. Baruthane was established as a mandatory settlement area for Jews, and they were not allowed to live outside. The surroundings of Baruthane were enclosed by walls, and it was a residential area with only two entrances for entry and exit. Jews had to return to their ghettos at night. In fact, in cities like Strasbourg, a night bell called "Judenglocke" was rung to signal that Jews had to return to their ghettos. This bell indicated that their curfew had arrived. This segregation of Jews persisted in Western Europe until World War II, eventually being replaced by gas chambers.
Throughout history, there has always been an underlying animosity between Christians and Jews. Christians consistently viewed Jews as second-class citizens and marginalized them. While the complaint of Jesus by the Jews to the Roman Governor Pilate and Jesus' subsequent crucifixion (which, in our holy book, the Quran, states that "They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so" - Surah An-Nisa, 4:156) might be a reason, the Jews' sharp intellect and proficiency in trade, leading to their economic superiority in the host country, were contributing factors to their unpopularity in the Christian Western world, often resulting in events like the persecution in Spain.
Contrarily, during the Ottoman era, the persecuted Jews in Europe were welcomed, and Muslims, Jews, and Christians coexisted as neighbors in the same neighborhoods, forming a unique bridge of friendship, rarely seen elsewhere under Ottoman rule.
The term "ghetto," originally defined as the place where Jews lived, has now broadened in the Western world to describe neighborhoods inhabited by immigrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers. These areas are perceived as autonomous, impoverished, dangerous, and closed-off. Today, the term "ghetto" is used, especially in the West and the USA, to designate areas predominantly inhabited by Black individuals. Ghettos are not only segregated in terms of residence, but also in terms of their distinct culture, language, and ideology. Subsequently, the word "ghetto" has transcended into different languages as "getove" or "getto." While trends like "ghetto style" and "ghetto model" have emerged today, when we look at the historical background and the passage of time, ghettos have been imbued with pain and marginalization.
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