The Syrian Journalists Association calls for the activist's release

ARK News… The "Syrian Journalists Association" called on the Turkish authorities to release the journalist "Khalid Al-Homsi" and stop the practices and pressures they exerted to force him to sign a request for voluntary return to Syria. Many Syrians are covered by temporary protection in Turkey, even though the forced deportation constitutes a clear violation of human rights principles and relevant international treaties.

The statement indicated that the insistence of the Turkish authorities to deport Syrians to Syria seems unacceptable in light of the fact that all international bodies still consider Syria an unsafe country, and Turkish law (the law of foreigners and international protection) categorically prohibits the deportation of any person to a place where his life or dignity is threatened.

The Association affirmed its solidarity with the journalist "Khalid Al-Homsi" and with all the Syrians who are forced to return, appealing at the same time to all human rights organizations and those interested in the Turkish and Syrian media affairs to intervene in order to end the suffering of the colleague Al-Homsi and release him to return him to his family residing in the Turkish city of Urfa and protect him from the great danger that he faces.

It also called for the need to keep the file of the Syrian refugees in Turkey as a purely humanitarian file and not to exploit it in Turkish internal politics, while appreciating all the services and facilities provided by the Turkish government and people to the Syrians during the previous years.

The report made recommendations to the Turkish government to end arbitrary deportations of Syrian refugees, ensure that violence is not used against them, investigate “voluntary return” forms, and allow UNHCR to monitor deportations.

320