Forcibly deportation | Turkish authorities send nearly 1,000 Syrian refugees to the “safe zone” since early July

Turkish authorities continue deporting Syrian refugees to Syria by force under the pretext of “violating laws and inhabiting in different provinces from those where they are registered,” especially in Istanbul. Batches of Syrian refugees are deported from on a daily basis in an inhumane way which violates all international conventions related to the rights of refugees and protect them from being forcibly deported.

Turkish government claims that it sends Syrians to the so-called “safe zone” in north Syria where they can enjoy safety and security. However, the situation on the ground is completely contradictory, where residents in all areas controlled by Turkish forces and their proxies in Syria are struggling with a deteriorating security situation, as well as the blatant violations and atrocities practiced by Turkish-backed militiamen; this makes the region unsafe for the return of refugees, especially with the dreadful living and economic conditions across Syria and almost-complete lack of essentials in refugee camps and residential compounds which host thousands of displaced people.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked the ongoing deportation of Syrian refugees by Turkish authorities, which has noticeably escalated since early July, documenting the arrival of 956 Syrian refugees in Syria, through several border crossings, after having been forcibly deported from Turkey. It is worth noting that most of the forcibly deported refugees from Turkey were carrying the temporary protection card ”Kimlik.”

Here are further details of some batches of the forcibly deported Syrians since early July:

• July 1: On the first day of Eid Al-Adha, the Turkish authorities deported 19 Syrian refugees, through the border crossing, towards Ras Al-Ain area which is controlled by Turkish forces and their proxies, within “Peace Spring” area in Al-Hasakah countryside.

• July 1: Turkish authorities forcibly deported 90 Syrian refugees, all carrying the temporary protection cards ”Kimlik,” to Azaz city in “Euphrates Shield” area, which is under the control of Turkish forces and their proxy factions in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The refugees, who were deported under the pretext that “they have not completed data needed for residence documents and do not have ID documents,” crossed into Syria via Bab Al-Salam crossing on the Syria-Turkey border.

• July 11: Turkish authorities deported 200 Syrian refugees from Turkey to Syrian territory, through Bab Al-Salama crossing in northern Azaz countryside within “Euphrates Shield” area in order to settle them in the residential complexes which had built in the region.

• July 12: Turkish authorities continue forcible deportation of Syrian refugees for the second day in a row through Bab Al-Salama crossing in Azaz countryside in northern Aleppo countryside. According to SOHR sources, Turkish government deported today nearly 100 Syrian refugees, including children and women, from Turkey to northern Syria, under the pretext that “they did not have identity documents.”

• July 13:Turkish authorities have forcibly deported 40 Syrian refugees to Ras Al-Ain city (Sere Kaniye) in “peace Spring” area which is controlled by Turkish forces and their proxy factions in Al-Hasakah countryside. Those refugees were transported to Syria via Jaylan Banar border crossing in batches under the pretext that “they did not carry IDs.”

• July 14: Turkish authorities deported nearly 45 Syrian refugees today, including women and children through Al-Hamam crossing in Jindires countryside in Afrin city within “Olive Branch” area. It is worth noting that some of people who deported having Turkish identity cards ”Kimlik”.

• July 15: Turkish authorities deported 160 Syrian refugees, including women and children, from their territory towards Tel Abyad\Gire Sepi area in Al-Raqqah countryside, within “Peace Spring” area, where they entered the area through Al-Terwaziyah line, in order to settle them in the area under the name of the voluntary return.

We, at SOHR, renew our calls to stop forcible deportation of Syrian refugees from Turkey immediately, as they have already fled from the war in their homeland and the disastrous living conditions and deteriorating security situation, especially since many had been forced to displace from their areas, after regime forces and their proxies managed to take control of large swaths of Syria.

We condemn the humiliating way and inhumane treatment by Turkish authorities towards Syrian refugees, and stress that all areas controlled by Turkish-backed militias cannot safe for the return of Syrian refugees.