Turkish authorities forcibly deport 7 Syrian refugees
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkish authorities deported on Wednesday seven Syrian refugees, including a minor girl, back to Syria through the Tel Abyad crossing in northern Raqqa Governorate, northern Syria.
The deported refugees were handed to the Military Police affiliated with Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka Syrian National Army (SNA), that arrested them under the pretext of investigation.
A military source in Tel Abyad said that the deportees included three young men from Raqqa, two from Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, and a young couple from Hasakah Governorate, northeast the country.
The Military Police of the SNA transported them to an investigation center to extort their families for money.
Civil Police of the SNA is in charge of such kind of arrests, but the Military Police repeatedly exploits such incidents for financial gain, as it does with arbitrary detention of refugees seeking asylum in Turkey, the source added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on May 23 that Turkey will deport one million Syrian refugees to northern Syria.
Turkey carries out periodic deportations against Syrians under the pretexts of committing violations and lacking documentations.
On June 7, the Turkish authorities deported 28 Syrian refugees to SNA-held areas, in northern Syria.