Turkish border guards arrest 16 Syrians crossed border 

IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkish border guards apprehended on Monday 16 people, including three women with their children, while they were trying to cross the border into Turkey from Idlib Governorate in northwest Syria.

The people were arrested in the village of Azmarin, west of Idlib. Their fate is unknown.

A local source told the North Press that the Turkish border could arrest them the moment they crossed, and they were taken to the observation post opposite the village of Azmarin.

The border guards usually return those who illegally cross the border back, however, this time they did not, amid fears that the border guards may commit new violations against the Syrian asylum seekers, the source added.

The source indicated that the number of those being arrested is 16 people, including three women with their children.

Incidents of attacking, torturing, arresting, and detaining Syrians trying to cross into Turkish territory by the Turkish border guards are frequent.  

On June 27, four people, including a woman, were shot at and wounded by Turkish border guards while trying to cross the border into Turkey from west of Idlib.

The Monitoring and Documentation Department recorded that in the first half of 2023, the number of affected Syrian asylum seekers has reached 452 individuals, including 20 children and 26 women. Tragically, 25 people were killed and 121 others were injured during direct targeting by live bullets while attempting to cross the Syrian-Turkish border. In addition, the Turkish border guards have assaulted and beat 306 individuals and have used excessive force to prevent them from crossing the border.

Reporting by Hani Salem