Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Turkey is 'illegally forcing refugees back to Syria', say Amnesty International

'It seems highly likely that Turkey has returned several thousand refugees to Syria in the last seven to nine weeks'

Friday 01 April 2016 18:37 BST

Syrian refugees wait for tents after fleeing the Russian-backed regime attack on the northern city of Aleppo (AFP/Getty)

Turkey has been accused of illegally forcing dozens of refugees to return to Syria every day.

Amnesty says the claims highlight the flaws of the EU-Turkey deal, which states refugees and migrants landing on the Greek coast will be returned to Turkey in return for financial support.

"In their desperation to seal their borders, EU leaders have willfully ignored the simplest of facts: Turkey is not a safe country for Syrian refugees and is getting less safe by the day,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe and Central Asia.

"The large-scale returns of Syrian refugees we have documented highlight the fatal flaws in the EU-Turkey deal. It is a deal that can only be implemented with the hardest of hearts and a blithe disregard for international law.

He added: "Far from pressuring Turkey to improve the protection it offers Syrian refugees, the EU is in fact incentivising the opposite

"It seems highly likely that Turkey has returned several thousand refugees to Syria in the last seven to nine weeks. If the agreement proceeds as planned, there is a very real risk that some of those the EU sends back to Turkey will suffer the same fate."

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Show all 15

1/15Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees try to bring down part of the border fence during a protest at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees try to break a Greek police cordon in order to approach the border fence at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees flee tear gas fire by the Macedonian police, after trying to bring down part of the border fence during a protest at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees try to break a Greek police cordon in order to approach the border fence at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees in the northern Greek village of Idomeni approach the Greek-Macedonian border as they try to enter Macedonia

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Macedonian riot police officers stand next to part of the border fence brought down by protesting stranded refugees and migrants during a protest at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees try to bring down part of the border fence during a protest at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees break an iron fence and throw stones from the Greek side of the border as Macedonian policemen push them back, near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

A girl cries as she flees clashes during a protest at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the Greek village of Idomeni

Reuters

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Refugees try to broke an iron fence from the Greek side of the border as Macedonian police stand guard, near the northern Greek village of Idomeni

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Stranded refugees and migrants in the northern Greek village of Idomeni approach the Greek-Macedonian border as they try to enter Macedonia

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

A man helps children to run away after Macedonian police fired tear gas at a group of refugees who tried to push their way into Macedonia

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

A woman carries a child on the Greek side of the border as they run away after Macedonian police fired tear gas at a group of refugees who tried to push their way into Macedonia

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

Refugees run away after Macedonian police fired tear gas

AP

Refugees break through Macedonia border fence in February

A woman falls as refugees with their children run away after Macedonian police

Getty Images

There are believed to be approximately 200,000 refugees living in camps within 20km of the Turkish border.

Turkey has scaled back the registration of refugees in its southern regions. Registration is required for the displaced Syrians to access basic public services.

Some refugees have told Amnesty they are scared of coming forward to register in case they are refused and forced back to Syria.

Turkish border guards have also been accused 16 Syrian refugees trying to cross the border into Turkey, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Three people have been stabbed amid riots on the Greek islands as the conditions worsen for refugees.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies