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Human Rights Watch ‘bell’: Blames Syrian regime for abusing refugees

Fire against the Syrian regime unleashes the Human Rights Observatory (HRW) accusing him of human rights abuses, especially arbitrary arrests and torture of refugees returning to Syria.

In a report based on interviews with 65 refugees or their families who returned to Syria from 2017 to 2021 from Jordan and Lebanon, the non-governmental organization notes that “the Syria it is not safe for those who return. “

Of the 65 refugees 21 were arbitrarily arrested or detained, while 13 others were tortured. Three abduction cases were also reported, as well as five extrajudicial executions, 17 enforced disappearances and one case of sexual violence.

At least 500,000 people have been killed in Syria since early 2011

Nearly 500,000 people have lost their lives since the war broke out in Syria in March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

According to the UN, the number of internally displaced persons is more than 6 million and the number of refugees is 5.5 million, with Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey as their main host countries.

«“Shredding allegations of torture, enforced disappearances and ill-treatment (…) clearly show that Syria is not safe for those who return.”, pointed out HRW investigator Nadia Hardman as broadcast by the Athens News Agency, citing AFP.

She cited other obstacles to a “sustainable” return of refugees, including “property rights violations and financial difficulties”.

Refugees

According to HRW, some countries are pushing hard for refugees to return to Syria, citing the “relative calm” that has prevailed in the country since March 2020, the UN denounces, despite the fact that the conflict continues.

In Lebanon, refugees are also subject to traffic bans, arrests and evictions, as well as restrictions on their residence permits, the NGO complains.

“No country should force refugees to return to Syria as long as the Syrian government commits serious human rights violations,” Hardman said.

“A decade later, refugees returning to Syria are still being persecuted by the same government they left,” he added.

“No one will be safe in Syria unless we stop the security mechanism from terrorizing people.”, said a 38-year-old refugee who had returned to the southern Syrian province of Quneitra from Lebanon where he had taken refuge.

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