Secretary of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Haytham Rahmeh, has denounced the arbitrary measures taken by Iraqi authorities to detain Syrian refugees and deport them to areas under the control of the Assad regime in Syria, despite possessing valid documents ensuring their right to asylum, protection, and care.
Rahmeh emphasized the imperative for Iraqi authorities to reconsider these decisions and called upon the United Nations and human rights organizations to intervene urgently to halt deportations, which directly imperil the lives of the displaced Syrians. He underscored the inevitable risk of prosecution and imprisonment in Assad regime prisons for those deported, who fled their homeland to seek safety from missiles and barrel bombs.
Citing numerous credible reports, Rahmeh highlighted the plight of those deported to Assad regime-controlled areas, subjected to arrest, torture, and unfounded charges merely for seeking refuge abroad. He reiterated that such areas cannot be deemed safe for refugee returns, given the Assad regime’s continued adoption of brutal and repressive tactics against Syrians.
Rahmeh made it clear that Syrian refugees were compelled to flee their country to escape the ongoing violations perpetrated by the Assad regime. He lamented the international community’s failure to pursue accountability and achieve a political solution that fulfills Syrians’ aspirations for freedom, dignity, and secure livelihoods.
Expressing dissatisfaction with recurring violations against Syrians in some host countries, Rahmeh stressed the imperative for adherence to international law, ensuring the protection of refugees’ rights and preventing their repatriation under conditions endangering their lives. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
