Turkish border guards wound, arrest asylum-seekers in NE Syria
SERE KANIYE, Syria (North Press) – Turkish border guards arrested on Monday five individuals and wounded two others while attempting to cross the Syrian-Turkish border in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria.
An exclusive source told North Press that “Turkish border guards arrested five people in the town of Mabrouka in the west of the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), northern Hasakah, when they tried to cross the border to Turkey, whereas two others were injured while attempting to return to Syria to avoid being detained in Turkey.”
The city of Sere Kaniye has been under the Turkish occupation since 2019 following a military operation dubbed “Peace Spring” that was launched by the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition factions, known as the Syrian National Army (SNA).
The five detainees were beaten before being transferred to a detention center. As for the wounded, they were taken to Sere Kaniye Public Hospital, one being in a critical condition, the source added.
Turkish authorities commit many violations against Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers who try to flee the deteriorating economic conditions in Syria by shooting, torturing, and detaining them.
During 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.
The Turkish border guards have also arrested 242 individuals and detained them for several days. Those individuals were then sent back to Syria, where they were once again arrested, assaulted, and extorted.