Syrian regime detains dozens of refugees who returned from Lebanon in July

The Syrian regime's security agencies are continuing to detain and forcibly disappear Syrians who have returned from countries where they had previously sought refuge, especially Lebanon.  

An informed source, who spoke to The New Arab's Arabic-language edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on condition of anonymity, said that around 90 Syrians returning to the country were arrested in July alone.

Over 50 of those detained were young men of military service age who were forcibly drafted into the regime's armed forces, while the rest were sent to detention centres.

Most of those who were forcibly returned were from rural areas outside Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.

Obeida K., a humanitarian activist who works in Homs, said: "Since the Arab states began opening up to the Syrian regime last year and restoring diplomatic relations with it, its various security agencies have been openly carrying out violations against civilians."

He said the border guards severely abuse those who have returned, "especially those from Lebanon" who are met with "obscenities and threats against anyone proven to have been involved in anti-regime activity".

The guards also financially extort returnees says Obeida, "despite their impoverished circumstances, which is the main reason for their return".

"These actions are unsurprising from an oppressive regime that has been violating the international community's humanitarian and human rights laws since 2011, amid complete silence from the international community," Obeida added.

Syrian refugees in Lebanon have been exposed to racist harassment campaigns, both on an official and popular level, prompting some who are financially able to leave for other countries, while poorer Syrians have been forced to return to their country despite the risks involved.

The Lebanese authorities have also deported Syrians back to Syria fully aware of the possible dangers from the regime's security apparatus, in addition to the dire living conditions in the country.

Khalil S., who returned to his village near Raqqa in early 2024, explained that the situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon "is the worst out of all the countries of asylum".

He and his family arrived in Lebanon over ten years ago but had been forced to return due to racism.

"There is no voluntary return as is talked about. There is the suffocation of refugees which pushes them to return".

He said he was forced to pay $300 to avoid harassment on the border, adding: "It was a big risk to go back, especially since we knew people who disappeared as soon as they entered Syria."

Abd al-Nasir Hawshan, a human rights activist, said that "the regime had not stopped, and will not stop detaining Syrians," adding, "anyone outside its control is accused of terrorism, supporting terrorism, cooperating with terrorists, or working for foreigners."

Many returning Syrians "think the regime won’t arrest them as they're not involved in anything, but when they enter the country, at the first security checkpoint, search and arrest warrants which have been secretly issued by the intelligence services appear".

He said Syrians who left the country as children but who have reached the age of compulsory military service when they return will be "detained […] before being handed over to military units".

Hawshan confirmed that there were no specific numbers for these arrests "because most families of the detainees fear for their fate and that of their detained sons, so they don't disclose it in the hope of resolving their situation."

He added: "Syrian human rights organisations have monitored cases of torture, including torture to death and financial, real estate and sexual extortion against Syrian refugees who have returned to their country."

Violations, death by torture and conscription

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) issued a report on World Refugee Day noting that it had documented at least 4,714 cases in which Syrian refugees and IDPs returning to Syria had been arrested by regime forces between 2014 and June 2024.

The network stated that the violations that were still being practised in Syria were the main reason behind the flight of millions of Syrians from their country, noting that this was the reason behind refugees not returning. It said that this was in fact generatin more refugees.

Last July, SNHR documented the death of Ahmad Nimer al-Halli, a young Syrian man from Barzeh, north of Damascus.

Halli died following torture in one of the regime's security detention centres following his forced return from Lebanon.

Homs-based human rights activist Ziad Al-Khalil said: "There’s no hope the regime will change its security approach, as this is the primary pillar of its survival."

He added that "the UN and the Security Council are directly responsible for what is happening, as many memoranda and reports submitted to them have failed to stir the conscience of the international community with regards to the Syrian people who have been suffering for more than a decade. Rather, they are content with emitting sighs of concern and making speeches of condemnation, nothing more."

This article is based on an article which appeared in our Arabic edition by Laith Abo Nader and Mohammed Amin on 7 August 2024. To read the original article click here.