The shifting attitudes towards the Assad regime in Syria have resulted in Lebanon and Turkey taking steps to expel Syrian refugees, causing fear and uncertainty among the vulnerable population, The Guardian reports.
Both countries, which had been providing refuge for Syrians fleeing the civil war, are now seeking to deport and remove them. Lebanon, where Syrians make up a significant portion of the population, announced plans to deport thousands of Syrians each month, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed to return one million Syrians to Syria. As the region moves towards normalizing relations with the Assad regime, refugees are facing increased fear and the risk of deportation.
In Lebanon, the Lebanese armed forces have reportedly driven hundreds of refugees to the Syrian border without offering an opportunity to challenge the expulsion. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of deportees, as some have been arrested or disappeared upon returning to Syria. Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in constant fear, limiting their movements and avoiding checkpoints to prevent being forcibly sent back.
Similarly, in Turkey, Syrian refugees have faced deportation, even when they have legal documentation and proof of residence. Many refugees are being sent to immigration detention centers where they are presented with a choice between signing voluntary deportation forms or remaining indefinitely detained. The conditions in these centers have been described as psychologically torturous, leading some detainees to agree to return to Syria under duress.
The recent earthquakes in southeast Turkey and northern Syria provided a temporary reprieve for some refugees, as their detention centers were destroyed, and they were released. However, their legal status remains uncertain, as they no longer have identification documents to prove their residency. This leaves them vulnerable to rearrest and further displacement.
The normalization of relations with the Assad regime, including Syria's readmission to the Arab League and the reopening of embassies, has contributed to the increasing fear among Syrian refugees in the region. The future of millions of Syrians who have sought safety in neighboring countries remains uncertain as their host nations shift their policies and seek to repatriate them.
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