Human Rights Watch has accused Turkish authorities of forcibly deporting or pressuring thousands of Syrians to leave the country, directing them to Tel Abyad, a remote district in northern Syria under Turkish control where humanitarian conditions are dire.
According to Human Rights Watch, between January and June 2023, the Tel Abyad border crossing administration published figures on its Facebook page indicating the number of Syrian returnees, all labeled as voluntary. An analysis of these figures shows a more than twofold increase compared to the same period in 2022. Despite Turkey’s assertion that all returns are voluntary, Human Rights Watch research suggests that Turkish forces have been arresting, detaining, and summarily deporting thousands of Syrian refugees since at least 2017. Many of these individuals are coerced into signing “voluntary” return forms and are then forced to cross into northern Syria. Turkish authorities have not responded to inquiries from Human Rights Watch, despite being sent a letter on February 1 sharing research findings and requesting information.
Adam Coogle, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch, criticized Turkey’s actions, stating, “Turkey’s ‘voluntary’ returns are often coerced returns to ‘safe zones’ that are pits of danger and despair. Turkey’s pledge to create ‘safe zones’ rings hollow as Syrians find themselves forced to embark on perilous journeys to escape the inhumane conditions in Tel Abyad.”
Human Rights Watch has obtained border crossing statistics from Turkey into Syria, revealing discrepancies with data published on the official Facebook pages of the three operational border crossing administrations regarding the categorization of returns. The statistics provided indicate that between January and December 2023, Turkish authorities deported 57,519 Syrians and others across its border crossings, including 16,652 through the Tel Abyad crossing. Analysis of the official page data shows variations in reporting practices, with one crossing, Bab al-Hawa, distinguishing between returnees and deportees, consistent with the statistics shared with Human Rights Watch, while the Bab al-Salama and Tel Abyad crossings do not.
