An unsafe environment and many challenges in receiving those forcibly deported from Turkey to Northern Syria

Khalil Abdul Rahman – Aleppo countryside

In recent months, cases of forced deportation have increased significantly by the Turkish occupation authorities against Syrian refugees on their lands for various reasons and charges, such as not carrying identification papers and the temporary protection card “kamlik” and others, as thousands were deported towards areas under the control of the Turkish occupation, or what are known as areas. “Olive Branch,” “Euphrates Shield,” and “Peace Spring,” specifically camps that lack the most basic necessities of life, which has harmed many people, as a result of the lack of a safe, livable environment.

Among the most prominent difficulties facing forced deportees is the loss of safety within these areas, which are a hotbed for killings, kidnappings, thefts, and the spread of “drugs,” in addition to the dominance of factions through the imposition of taxes, royalties, and arbitrary arrests with the aim of collecting money at the expense of civilians, and all of this under the watchful eye of the authorities. The Turkish occupation supports these factions, without accountability or oversight.

The young man “Mohammad Al-Ali” (a pseudonym for a young man recently deported by the Turkish occupation authorities) says in his testimony to ASO News Network: “I am from the city of Aleppo and I was in the city of Istanbul with my family who are still there, and a problem occurred between a number of Syrian and Turkish young men there. The authorities arrested us all, and because I did not have a “temporary protection” card, I was quickly and forcibly deported to Syria. I was deported with a group of Syrians through Bab al-Salama crossing.”

He added, “I now live in the town of Al-Rai in the northern countryside of Aleppo without the presence of any member of my family. I rented a house and lived in it, because there is no place within the camps or even the housing projects established by Turkey and humanitarian organizations, and one of the most severe difficulties I face is the lack of safety.” .

He continues by saying: “Every day there are arrests, assassinations, thefts, and sounds of gunfire due to tribal disputes, without any ability to control this miserable situation. The regions lack the most basic necessities of life. There are not even job opportunities for young people.”

He stressed that the deportation of Syrians in Turkey to the regions of northern Syria would cause a real disaster, and he believes that these regions are not qualified to receive more deportees, “and yet the Turkish occupation authorities continue their arrests and deportation of Syrians for the most trivial reasons,” as he described it.

In turn, the journalist activist (M.A.) says to ASO News Network: “The project is clear. Turkey wants to return Syrian refugees from its lands after forcing them to sign deportation papers, with the aim of completing its project to change the demographics of the region and settle Syrians from several governorates in areas that are not theirs.” After building residential villages, and on the other hand, to relieve the burden of the Syrians and their annoying presence for many of the opposition parties that Erdogan does not want to enter into a war with for the sake of the Syrians.”

He continues by saying: “And let us not forget the issue of the Turkish rapprochement with the government of the Syrian regime, which has revived in the recent times following the earthquake and its openness to many Arab countries, and all of this pushes Erdogan to insist on moving forward with the project to deport Syrians to the Turkish occupation areas despite the extent of the security chaos there.” And the lack of qualifications to receive large numbers of Syrians.”

The Turkish authorities are not satisfied with the greatly escalating deportation operations, but rather commit violations against those who are arrested. These violations include beating, cursing, and stealing their money and mobile phones. Such incidents have been repeated frequently, according to the previous source.

In this context, the young man (A.K.) says that he was recently subjected to a deportation operation in which the Turkish occupation authorities put him with more than 100 people in a detention center near the Syrian-Turkish border, and there the elements stole his personal phone and a sum of money estimated at about 400 US dollars. In addition, he was beaten and insulted after he was arrested without any justification in the Turkish city of Reyhanli.

He was forced to sign a paper called approving “voluntary return.” The paper includes a condition preventing him from entering Turkish territory for a period of 7 years, stressing that this is the case for those who are subjected to arrest and deportation before they face the difficulties of adapting within the areas under the control of the Turkish occupation forces and their affiliated factions in Northern Syria.

It is noteworthy that with the increase in cases of forced deportation against Syrians, the areas under the control of the Turkish occupation are witnessing a state of great public dissatisfaction and discontent, especially after the increase in violations against the people, the strict restrictions on Syrians in Turkey and the deportation of dozens daily, leaving their families in Turkey, which causes the disintegration and dispersion of Syrian families who suffered bitterness during the years of the Syrian crisis.