Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Lebanon and Cyprus of violating the human rights of Syrian refugees with indirect financial support from the European Union (EU) in a report released Wednesday. HRW detailed how both countries intercepted and forcibly returned refugees to Syria in a coordinated effort to prevent them from seeking asylum in Europe.
According to the human rights organization, Syrian refugees who tried to leave Lebanon by boat were intercepted by the Lebanese army and then expelled to Syria. Meanwhile, the Cypriot Coast Guard intercepted refugees who reached Cyprus, sending them back to Lebanon, where they often faced immediate deportation to Syria. These findings were based on interviews with 16 Syrian refugees who attempted to flee Lebanon between August 2021 and September 2023. One refugee recounted how Cypriot officers used a taser and baton on her husband, resulting in severe injuries before forcing them back to Lebanon. Additionally, HRW reviewed photos, videos, and other tracking data to corroborate the refugees’ accounts.
These actions have drawn criticism from the human rights group, which argues that Lebanon’s expulsions violate its obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the principle of non-refoulement. Cyprus’ actions are also deemed illegal under the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits collective expulsions and indirect refoulement.
HRW also highlights the EU’s role in funding these operations, noting that the EU and its member states provided Lebanon with up to €16.7 million between 2020 and 2023 to enhance its border management capabilities. In May 2024, the EU allocated an additional €1 billion to Lebanon for similar purposes through 2027, including funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces. HRW argues that these funds have effectively supported Lebanon’s violations of international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to countries where they face persecution or danger.
Nadia Hardman, a refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW, criticized the EU’s involvement, stating:
By preventing Syrian refugees from leaving to seek protection elsewhere, and then forcibly returning them to Syria, Lebanon violates the fundamental prohibition on returning a refugee to face persecution, while the European Union helps pay the bills
The report also sheds light on the broader context of Lebanon’s refugee crisis. Hosting the world’s highest number of refugees per capita, including 1.5 million Syrians, Lebanon is grappling with severe economic challenges that have exacerbated the desperation of refugees seeking to leave. Many refugees view irregular boat crossings as their only option for finding safety and a better life in Europe, given the lack of legal migration pathways and the ongoing threat of persecution in Syria.
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