Activists call for measures to stop forced deportations to Syria

euronews (in English)

Human rights defenders say refugees "are increasingly becoming targets of xenophobia, discrimination, and violent aggression" upon their return to Syria.

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00:00Syrian human rights advocates call for the European Union to help stop increasing violence

00:06against Syrian refugees in Cyprus and Lebanon, including forced deportation.

00:12The activists met EU and government officials to call for action as harassment to refugees

00:17has been documented by the United Nations and NGOs.

00:24This triangle between Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus that has been catalyzing the catastrophe

00:33actually of Syrian refugees.

00:35We know for a fact that many of those who have been forcibly returned have been detained

00:44on arrival or conscripted in the fourth military service of the government.

00:51And in a way, many have also, as I said earlier, ended up serving in the Russian army.

01:00The increased instability in Lebanon, which hosts 1.5 of the 6 million Syrian refugees,

01:05let asylum seekers try to reach Cyprus across the Mediterranean Sea.

01:10As an answer, this EU country has suspended application processing since April, but denies

01:15all the accusations.

01:17At the same time, Cyprus and other seven member states signed a letter in July asking for

01:22the union to restart dialogue with Syria.

01:25Thirteen years after the revolt against the regime, the country is still mostly under

01:29control of Bashar al-Assad.

01:32There should be no discussion about returning Syrians.

01:35There should be a discussion about accountability in Syria.

01:38There should be a discussion about if we want Syrians to want to go home, then there is

01:42an issue of war criminals shouldn't be still in power.

01:46War criminals shouldn't still be completely controlling the economy of the country.

01:51A report by the United Nations in February stated that Syria does not offer safe conditions

01:56to those who return, as they are subjected to gross human rights violations and abuses.

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