The General Directorate of Migration of Turkey announced on Tuesday that it will deport 5000 more illegal Afghan migrants in the coming days. Turkey has been accused of violating immigration laws by mistreating and extraditing refugees.
Anatoly New Agency reports that Turkey’s General Directorate of Migration has expelled 477 Afghan refugees in the first five days of 2023, and this trend will continue.
According to reports Turkey government has detained some 2000 undocumented migrants from January 1-5, out of which 1000 have already been deported to their countries, respectively. The country’s migration department stated that 5000 more Afghan refugees will be extradited in the coming days.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has accused some countries including Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan of violating international human rights laws, and asked them to end the mistreatment of migrants and their arbitrary deportation.
Turkey has expelled more than 120,000 refugees in 2022 alone, a huge number for a country to host with more coming from the war-ravaged and conflicted hit regions, hoping to reach Europe.
Following the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fled the country fearing physical harassment, persecution, and killing at the hands of the Taliban to the neighboring counties. Most people took the rather risky and illegal pathways to enter countries including Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. After spending months of uncertainty they now face the fear of forceful deportation and imprisonment.
The overwhelming challenge Afghan refugees are going through in the neighboring countries is beyond imagination. They not only suffer discrimination and harassment but also witness the worst nightmare (forceful deportation) in the host countries.
