Turkey deports 22 Syrians on first day of Eid al-Adha
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkish authorities deported 22 Syrian refugees on Wednesday, the first day of Eid al-Adha, through Bab al-Hawa border crossing to Idlib Governorate in northwest Syria without notifying their relatives residing in Turkey.
An exclusive source in Bab al-Hawa border crossing told North Press that Turkish border guards dropped 22 Syrians inside the yard of the border crossing in northern Idlib in a mass deportation, including nine people who hail from the city of Afrin and minors under the age of 18. They did not inform their relatives residing in Turkey of their arrest and deportation. This is the third deportation taking place in June.
On June 22, the Turkish authorities deported seven Syrian refugees, including a minor girl, back to Syria through the Tel Abyad crossing in Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on May 23 that Turkey will deport one million Syrian refugees to northern Syria.
The source added that the Turkish authorities took iris scans, fingerprints, and their identification papers to prevent them from returning to Turkish territories even though they have worked and lived there for years.
In mid-June, the deportation of several Syrians occurred through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing as part of a systematic deportation policy adopted by the Turkish government against Syrians.
Turkey has built more than 19 settlements in Afrin region, northwest Syria, through using organizations like Living with Dignity Association, White Hands (Beyaz Eller), Rahma International Society, and other organizations which are funded by Qatar and Kuwait.
While the number of settlements built by Turkey with the support of Gulf countries, most notably Kuwait and Qatar, and Palestinian associations, has exceeded more than 100 in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria, according to North Press’ own investigations.
Turkey has repeatedly – and illegally – deported Syrian refugees under the pretext of violating asylum laws and not amending their data regarding the temporary protection ID card, also known as Kimlik.