Forced Returns Risk New Crisis in Syria, Warns Deported Activist

Deported human rights defender Taha Elgazi has warned that forcibly sending Syrian refugees back to their home country could create a new social crisis. Elgazi stated that returning asylum seekers before safe conditions are established violates both Turkish and international law. The warning comes amid ongoing political discussions in Turkey about the return of Syrian refugees. Turkey hosts the world's largest refugee population, with approximately 3.6 million Syrians. Elgazi, who was recently deported from Turkey, emphasized that forced returns, or "refoulement," are illegal. International law forbids sending people back to countries where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. He argued that without a genuine peace and a safe environment in Syria, mass returns would not be sustainable. This could lead to further instability and humanitarian suffering in the region.