Ahmad Baccora, Coordinator of the Refugee and Displaced Persons Working Group of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), has expressed full support for the demands of Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. The refugees oppose Dutch government bid to classify Syria as a safe country, a move that could pave the way for the forced return of refugees to Syria.
In a press statement, Baccora highlighted that the protests by Syrian refugees clearly reflect their concerns about the severe risks they would face upon return to Syria, given the continued presence of the Assad regime and the ongoing violence, arrests, and torture.
Baccora reiterated that the classification of Syria as a safe country is a political decision, not one based on ground realities. He cited reliable human rights reports documenting Assad regime violations against refugees fleeing Lebanon, as well as recent decisions by the UN Human Rights Council on July 31 and the UN International Commission of Inquiry on October 9.
He urged the international community to intensify efforts to advance the political process and implement UN resolutions on Syria, specifically the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and Resolutions 2118 and 2254, considering these as the only means to address the root causes of the refugee crisis.
On Sunday, hundreds of Syrian refugees protested in the Netherlands against Dutch government efforts to classify Syria as a safe country, a decision that could lead to their return to Syria.
Protesters stressed the dangers of this decision, emphasizing that Syria’s security conditions continue to pose a serious threat to the lives of returnees. Recent human rights reports document widespread arrests of recent returnees.
Protesters also pointed out that Syria remains far from the safety claimed by some governments. They cited documented cases of individuals who had returned from Lebanon after fleeing recent Israeli occupation attacks, only to be arrested upon arrival in Syria, with some later dying in regime detention.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
