The latest report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuses Lebanon and Cyprus of violating Syrian refugees’ human rights with indirect financial support from the European Union (EU). HRW detailed how both countries intercepted and forcibly returned refugees to Syria, aiming to prevent them from seeking asylum in Europe. According to HRW, Syrian refugees attempting to leave Lebanon by boat were intercepted by the Lebanese army and expelled to Syria. Similarly, the Cypriot Coast Guard intercepted refugees reaching Cyprus, sending them back to Lebanon, where they often faced immediate deportation to Syria.
One refugee recounted how Cypriot officers used a taser and baton on her husband, resulting in severe injuries before forcing them back to Lebanon. To corroborate these accounts, HRW conducted interviews with 16 Syrian refugees who tried fleeing Lebanon between August 2021 and September 2023, and also reviewed photos, videos, and tracking data.
HRW argues that these expulsions violate Lebanon’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and the principle of non-refoulement. Cyprus’ actions are deemed illegal under the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits collective expulsions and indirect refoulement.
Significantly, HRW highlights the EU’s role in funding these operations. Between 2020 and 2023, the EU and its member states provided Lebanon with up to €16.7 million to enhance its border management capabilities. In May 2024, the EU allocated an additional €1 billion to Lebanon for similar purposes through 2027, including funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces. HRW asserts that these funds have effectively supported Lebanon’s violations of international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to countries where they face persecution or danger.
Nadia Hardman, a refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW, criticized the EU’s involvement, stating:
By preventing Syrian refugees from leaving to seek protection elsewhere, and then forcibly returning them to Syria, Lebanon violates the fundamental prohibition on returning a refugee to face persecution, while the European Union helps pay the bills.
The report also places these actions within the broader context of Lebanon’s refugee crisis. Hosting the world’s highest number of refugees per capita, including 1.5 million Syrians, Lebanon faces severe economic challenges that have exacerbated the desperation of refugees seeking to leave. Many view irregular boat crossings as their only safety and better life option in Europe, given the lack of legal migration pathways and the ongoing threat of persecution in Syria.
For a detailed look, view the original reporting on JURIST – News.