Recently, Syrian refugees in Turkey have come under violent, xenophobic attacks, in an atmosphere of increased incitement of racial hatred as well as escalated deportations by the Turkish authorities in violation of international refugee and human rights laws. Femena strongly condemns the ongoing deportations and the attacks on Syrians in Kayseri, Gaziantep, and other Turkish provinces. We urge the Turkish authorities to abide by their international law obligations, and to adopt and adhere to policies that protect the rights and dignity of all refugees, with careful consideration for women and other vulnerable groups who are disproportionately affected by displacement as well as the violation of their rights.
The year 2011 marked the start of the Syrian uprising, when Syrians took to the streets to protest the four-decade rule of the Assad regime. In response to the widespread civil unrest, the Syrian regime pursued a strategy of crushing dissent, targeting civilians, besieging communities, and perpetrating egregious human rights violations. The protest movement evolved into an armed conflict, which has led to an estimated death toll of over 300,000 people, and the displacement of over half of the country’s population––with over 6.8 million people seeking refuge outside Syria. The vast majority of the refugees are living in neighboring countries, with Turkey alone hosting 3.2 million people–– the largest population of Syrian refugees.
Syrians in Turkey have faced a wide array of challenges related to their legal status, precarious living conditions, and widespread xenophobia and discrimination. The devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake of February 2023, which ripped through southern Turkey and northern Syria, directly impacted more than 9 million persons in Turkey, among them 1.7 Syrian and other refugees. The aftermath of this earthquake and Turkey’s economic turmoil have led to extreme anti-refugee backlash. The government has waged unlawful deportation campaigns. As Syrians hold temporary refugee status in Turkey, this has made it easier for authorities to carry out deportations, which have happened repeatedly since 2018. According to Human Rights Watch, over 57,000 Syrians were forcibly deported in 2023 alone, many of whom were coerced into signing “voluntary” repatriation agreements. The precarious situation in regions like Idlib, where many refugees are being sent, underscores the dangers that await them. Idlib remains a politically volatile conflict zone that is host to 2.9 million internally displaced persons who are largely dependent on diminishing international aid funds. Women and children are at increased risk of violence, exploitation, and deprivation in these areas.
The grief and broader impacts of the 2023 earthquake also paved the way for racist presidential and parliamentary campaigns in Turkey. The rising xenophobic sentiments in Turkey have been fueled by political rhetoric and action, where dominant political parties campaigned with anti-migrant platforms, leading to increased hostility against refugees, and the undermining of social cohesion and human rights. Turkish authorities have cracked down on undocumented refugees, and particularly those displaced by the earthquake. Authorities intercepted undocumented migrants and refugees residing in provinces where they are not registered, as many had fled to those areas in search of shelter and safety as a result of the earthquake.
Syrian women refugees have been subjected to increased forms of gender-based violence and repeated assaults in Turkey. The deportation campaign against Syrians has had a gendered impact on women. For instance, mothers are sometimes being deported without their children, leading to severe psycho-social trauma, and threatens the well-being and stability of families. Femena spoke to a Women Human Rights Defender based in Gaziantep, who described a public atmosphere rife with fear and terror, reminding her of life under Assad in Syria. She spoke of the immense challenges facing her family, “My son was detained for over a month, and despite hiring a lawyer, his case remains unresolved. They demanded a bribe from the immigration office. If they raid our home, he’ll be deported immediately. They are separating mothers and their children and deporting the mothers to Syria without their children.” (8 July 2024).
Femena stands in solidarity with Syrian refugees in Turkey and elsewhere. We call on the Turkish government to immediately end these unlawful deportations and to uphold the rights of all refugees. We note, with alarm, Turkey’s increased deportation of Afghan refugees, as well as their unlawful pushbacks across the Turkish-Iranian border. We urge the international community to pressure the Turkish government and hold it accountable for its actions, as well as provide greater support for refugee protection and integration efforts. Backlash against refugee and migrant communities, especially at times of economic crisis and political uncertainty are an unfortunate reality. These communities become a convenient scapegoat for politicians who exploit their circumstances to score political points with the electorate, instead of addressing the deep-rooted underlying causes of the economic and political crises their countries face. Instead, Femena calls on international stakeholders to reject politics of hate and division, and to continue funding programs that empower refugees, particularly women and other vulnerable communities, through legal awareness, education and employment opportunities, psychosocial support, amongst other life-affirming initiatives.
While many Syrians await safe return to Syria under conditions that guarantee dignity and freedom for all its people, the current political situation does not allow for that. Until there is meaningful political transformation in Syria, we call on all host countries to address the challenges facing Syrian asylum seekers and refugees, and to act in accordance with international refugee and human rights law.