The Syrian Network for Human Rights reports severe human rights abuses against Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon, highlighting 26 arrests and one death due to torture. The report outlines their harrowing choice between unsafe conditions in Lebanon and a dangerous return to Syria, where oppressive regime policies continue to threaten their safety.
A recent report from the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), titled ‘A Dreadful Homecoming’, highlights alarming human rights violations faced by Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon between September 23 and October 25, 2024. At least 26 individuals were arrested, including a woman, and one man died due to torture in detention. The report emphasizes the dire choices refugees make, caught between unsafe conditions in Lebanon and the threats posed by returning to a volatile Syria, where they face arrests and torture. The SNHR’s findings underline the continuously unsafe environment in Syria due to the regime’s oppressive policies enforcing arbitrary arrests, torture, and property seizure. Since January 2024, at least 208 returnees have been arrested, with six reportedly dying from torture. These brutal tactics highlight the regime’s ongoing efforts to consolidate control over properties abandoned by refugees through newly introduced laws favoring the state. Fadel Abdulghany, SNHR’s Executive Director, condemned the conditions returnees face, stating, “In light of the lack of any procedures put in place to guarantee the protection of returnees’ rights and safety, Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon have been facing security and legal challenges.” The report reveals that violations have included not only unlawful detentions but also harassment regarding aid distribution, highlighting extensive suffering and discrimination. Amidst these challenges, returning and relocating refugees often find themselves homeless and reliant on aid that falls drastically short of their needs. Approximately 23,409 of those returning from Lebanon attempted to escape to non-regime areas, seeking safety but encountering poor humanitarian conditions. They undergo stringent security checks and face exploitation by local factions, proving the challenges extend beyond physical boundaries. Ultimately, the SNHR concludes that the Syrian regime perpetuates violations of human rights, contradicting international law obligations. Returning refugees are discriminated against, violating the principles of equality anchored in the Refugee Convention. The report calls for the UN to provide clear guidance on the dangers of returning and urges strong international support to address these pressing humanitarian issues.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis for Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon is compounded by systemic threats from the Syrian regime. Facing extreme hardships and basic needs shortages in Lebanon, many refugees feel compelled to return to Syria, despite the inherent dangers. The SNHR’s report captures the struggles of these individuals as they navigate an unsafe and oppressive landscape marked by arbitrary detentions and torture.
The SNHR’s report reveals a distressing reality for Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon, emphasizing the regime’s ongoing human rights violations. With increasing arrests, torture, and property confiscation, returnees are left vulnerable and marginalized. Urgent action from the international community is needed to address these violations and improve conditions for refugees escaping the dire circumstances in both Lebanon and Syria.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
