Amnesty International issued a joint statement along with other human rights groups on Tuesday urging Lebanese authorities to end unlawful practices against Syrian refugees. These practices include torture, unlawful deportations, and ill-treatment of Syrian refugees, which run contrary to their international obligations.

According to Amnesty, Syrian refugees in Lebanon have faced increasing hostility, from arbitrary arrests to summary deportations. These have been exacerbated by misleading propaganda generated by Lebanese government officials and media outlets that have fueled tension between the Lebanese community and Syrian refugees.

The joint public statement proposes recommendations to halt the summary deportations of Syrian refugees, such as by granting the opportunity to challenge deportation orders before the courts, preventing Lebanese authorities from disseminating misinformation or hate speech about Syrian refugees, and fully implementing its Anti-Torture Laws that is criticised for having ineffective enforcement.

Recommendations regarding victims of torture include conducting “prompt, independent, impartial, and effective investigations into complaints and reports of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment”.

Several international organisations, such as the UN, have reported Syria as unsafe to return for Syrian refugees. This is namely because of the great human rights abuses upon their return to Syria, such as arbitrary detainments, torture, and even reports of enforced disappearance. These human rights violations frequently result from the direct consequence of leaving Syria and seeking refuge elsewhere.

Amnesty International has also previously targeted the European Union for providing Lebanon with a $1 billion aid package aimed at preventing Syrian refugees from reaching Europe’s shores. This migration deal inadvertently funds human rights abuses by curbing migration movements to Europe. This means Syrian refugees may take even more dangerous routes to reach Europe in order to avoid forced deportation to Syria by Lebanon, increasing the risks of trafficking or smuggling networks.

The joint statement ultimately serves as a reminder of the dire conditions faced by Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the urgent need for international action to protect their human rights and dignity.