Activists call for measures to stop forced deportations to Syria
Human rights defenders say refugees "are increasingly becoming targets of xenophobia, discrimination, and violent aggression" upon their return to Syria.
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00:00Syrian human rights advocates call for the European Union to help stop increasing violence
00:06against Syrian refugees in Cyprus and Lebanon, including forced deportation.
00:12The activists met EU and government officials to call for action as harassment to refugees
00:17has been documented by the United Nations and NGOs.
00:24This triangle between Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus that has been catalyzing the catastrophe
00:33actually of Syrian refugees.
00:35We know for a fact that many of those who have been forcibly returned have been detained
00:44on arrival or conscripted in the fourth military service of the government.
00:51And in a way, many have also, as I said earlier, ended up serving in the Russian army.
01:00The increased instability in Lebanon, which hosts 1.5 of the 6 million Syrian refugees,
01:05let asylum seekers try to reach Cyprus across the Mediterranean Sea.
01:10As an answer, this EU country has suspended application processing since April, but denies
01:15all the accusations.
01:17At the same time, Cyprus and other seven member states signed a letter in July asking for
01:22the union to restart dialogue with Syria.
01:25Thirteen years after the revolt against the regime, the country is still mostly under
01:29control of Bashar al-Assad.
01:32There should be no discussion about returning Syrians.
01:35There should be a discussion about accountability in Syria.
01:38There should be a discussion about if we want Syrians to want to go home, then there is
01:42an issue of war criminals shouldn't be still in power.
01:46War criminals shouldn't still be completely controlling the economy of the country.
01:51A report by the United Nations in February stated that Syria does not offer safe conditions
01:56to those who return, as they are subjected to gross human rights violations and abuses.