A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) has exposed a coordinated effort between Lebanese and Cypriot authorities to prevent Syrian refugees from reaching Europe and forcibly returning them to Syria. The report, I Can’t Go Home, Stay Here, or Leave details how Lebanese forces have intercepted refugees at sea and immediately deported them back to Syria. Meanwhile, Cypriot authorities have returned boats of refugees to Lebanon, often without consideration for their asylum status or the risks they face in Syria.
HRW’s findings are based on interviews with 16 Syrian refugees and extensive research, including video and photographic evidence. Refugees shared harrowing accounts of being forcibly expelled to Syria, where many faced detention and extortion. A 44-year-old Syrian woman recounted how Cypriot officers violently forced her and her family back to Lebanon, after which they were handed over to Syrian forces.
Lebanon, which hosts 1.5 million Syrian refugees, has been grappling with economic crises, further exacerbating the dire conditions for refugees. The report emphasizes that Lebanon’s actions violate international laws prohibiting the forced return (non-refoulement) of refugees to countries where they face persecution. Cyprus’ pushbacks also breaches European human rights laws, particularly concerning collective expulsions.
The European Union (EU) has been funding Lebanese border control measures, providing millions of euros aimed at curbing migration. However, HRW warns that these funds are being used to facilitate human rights violations. The EU has allocated €1 billion to Lebanon through 2027, yet the HRW report calls for stronger mechanisms to monitor and ensure that EU funds are not contributing to abuses.
HRW researcher Nadia Hardman stressed the urgency of reform, stating that “Lebanon and Cyprus are violating fundamental international protections for refugees,” and called on the EU to establish independent monitoring to prevent further rights violations.
This report underscores the precarious situation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the broader geopolitical dynamics of migration, with European states outsourcing border control to countries that fail to meet international human rights standards.
