Turkish border guards arrest 16 Syrians crossing border
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, Turkish border guards arrested 16 Syrians, including women and children, while they were trying to cross to Turkey from Kherbet Eljoz west of Idlib, northwest Syria, as well as, two young men were wounded.
Local sources from the village of Kherbet Eljoz told North Press that the Turkish border guards are still arresting the civilians amid fear for their lives since three women, one of which is an elderly woman, and six children are among the arrested.
The sources added that the wounded young men were transferred to a hospital in Jisr al-Shughur.
They noted that the Turkish border guards “have increased their brutal practices” against residents who want to cross the border following the Feb. 6 earthquake. They also targeted farmers while working on their lands near the border.
Families of the arrested fear that the Turkish border guards harm them since Turkish human rights violations against Syrians have lately witnessed a surge, according to the sources.
On Sunday evening, Turkish border guards attacked a group of 15 Syrians on their attempt to cross Syrian-Turkish border from the countryside of Afrin, northwest Syria.
Most of those who want to access Turkey resort to illegal and dangerous smuggling routes in light of unavailable safe ones to either reunite with their families or secure jobs to provide for their families amid the dire economic conditions the country is witnessing.