Early in July, Turkey forcibly deported 3,540 Syrians with temporary protection identity cards (Kimlik) to northern Syria. Additionally, 840 refugees were deported in the past 7 days, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Friday.
The Turkish authorities forcibly detained more than 125 Syrian families in deportation centers in the province of Kayseri. The families included children and women. Ankara is preparing to send the detainees back to Syria, as reported by the SOHR.
On Friday, 120 Syrians were already deported from Turkey through the border crossings towards northern Syria. The Observatory stated that Turkey is forcibly deporting more than 100 Syrians every day. Most of these Syrians hold temporary protection ID cards (Kimlik). The aim is to settle them in areas under Turkish control in the Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring regions.
The SOHR condemned the “humiliating way and inhumane treatment” by Turkish authorities towards Syrian refugees who are forcibly being deported back to their country. The organization called on the international community to “assume its responsibilities towards protecting Syrian refugees in Turkey and prevent their deportation under the pretext of sending them to a safe zone.”
According to Bloomberg, the Turkish government said on Friday that it was deporting at least seven Syrians for “provocatively” sharing their images while eating bananas on social media after a Turkish citizen complained about not being able to afford bananas while the refugees could.
Three weeks ago, tensions rose between Turks and Syrian refugees after the arrest of a Syrian man who had been accused of harassing a child. Turkish police then arrested 474 people during anti-Syrian riots in several cities. The police action resulted in damage to businesses and properties belonging to the Syrian community.
Source: SOHR
