Ahmad Baccora, Coordinator of the Refugees and Displaced Persons Working Group in the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), reaffirmed the SOC’s support for the appeals from human rights and humanitarian organizations urging the Turkish government to uphold its national and international commitments to protect Syrian refugees.
In a press statement, Baccora underscored the urgent need to protect Syrian refugees and halt acts of violence and incitement against them. He called on the Turkish government to take immediate measures to ensure the rights and dignity of Syrian refugees.
Seventy-three Syrian human rights, humanitarian, and civil society organizations have signed a joint statement urging the Turkish government to honor its obligations to protect Syrian refugees, guarantee their basic rights and dignity, and stop the violence against them. The statement urged adherence to the principle of non-refoulement to countries of conflict, as numerous reports by independent investigation committees confirm that serious human rights violations persist in Syria, making it unsafe for refugees to return.
The statement also called on the Turkish government to take swift action to protect Syrians and ensure their basic rights and dignity. It emphasized the need for the international community to collaborate with Türkiye to provide essential support to refugees and find lasting solutions to alleviate their suffering.
Additionally, the organizations urged the donor community funding the response to Syrian refugees in neighboring countries to ensure that the funds allocated to support refugees are not used by the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management to pressure Syrian refugees.
The statement expressed the hope of the vast majority of Syrian refugees for the day when Syria becomes safe for their return. It called for addressing the ongoing escalation of incitement and violence against Syrian refugees and ensuring their protection in accordance with the law and international agreements.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
