Amnesty International blasts Turkey for violation of human rights on refugees

Calls on EU to guarantee wellbeing of refugees

Amnesty International has raised serious allegations  regarding Turkey’s commitments to upholding human rights, according to German ‘Deutsche Welle’. Amnesty International accuses Turkey of systematically violating human rights laws over the past months by forcing Syrian refugees back into their war torn country only a few day before the EU-Turkey refugee relocation agreement comes into effect. The organisation’s report, which will be made public in Berlin, Friday estimates the ‘forced expulsions’ back to Syria in the thousands. ‘In one instance Ankara forcefully removed three unaccompanied children back to Syria, while in another case an 8-month pregnant woman had to go back’, said Marie Lucas, the Turkish representative of Amnesty. She continued by outlining that hundreds of groups of men, women and children are sent to Syria after entering Turkey. According to the report’s findings on the southern borders of Turkey, the country cannot be considered a safe third country, while it continues by advising EU member states to be cautious about relocating refugees back to Turkey from Greece. German news agency DPA claims the seaside cities of Cesme and Dikili in Turkey opposite the Greek islands of Lesvos and Chios will receive the first exchange 500 refugees from Greece, mainly Pakistanis, Syrians and Afghanis.