MSDBy Sahar al-Homsi
Homs, Syria (SDC) – Syrian refugees face repeated forced displacement, fleeing systematic violence and grave human rights abuses perpetrated by the Syria’s Security Apparatus. Despite their desire to return to their homeland, Syria, fear of arbitrary arrest prevents them from doing so. Therefore, they suffer from a dire situation. The Syrian authorities claim that they do not object to the return of refugees to their homeland. However, the international community is unable to protect those refugees from security pursuits when they return to Syria. There is a humanitarian suffering as a result of the continued violations by the authorities against civilians. These violations constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
Amidst the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon, many Syrian refugees have been forced to return to their home country. The authorities claimed they would ensure a safe and dignified return for refugees. They promised to provide shelter and all the necessities of a decent life. However, on-the-ground testimonies revealed a different reality. Many returnees have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and forcibly taken to the prisons of the Syrian Army’s Fourth Division.
The Fourth Division Imposes Royalties
When Syrians started fleeing from Lebanon to Syria, the authorities removed the rule that required Syrians to exchange $100 at the Syrian-Lebanese border in order to enter their country.
However, this decision, which was met with ridicule by Syrians, was merely made for the interests of the Fourth Division’s officers. They were at checkpoints spread along the roads from the border to the central Syria, imposing royalties on all Syrians returning from Lebanon.
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The Fourth Division has profited significantly from the displacement from Lebanon to Syria. According to returnees who managed to reach Damascus, the total amounts paid to the officers of the Fourth Division at checkpoints from the border to Damascus sometimes exceeded $380. This has led some people to say that smugglers have become more merciful than the Fourth Division, as the cost of returning to Syria by them is around $200.
The reverse displacement from Lebanon to Syria continues. Although the authorities have removed the requirement to exchange $100 at the border, the Fourth Division has issued “transit fees”. This term has become common among Syrians. It is used to impose royalties on all returning Syrians, personal vehicles, taxis and buses. This practice has become one of the most significant forms of economic exploitation in Syria. Moreover, the Fourth Division uses force to enforce the payment of these fees, and that anyone who refuses is subjected to arrest and imprisonment.
On the other hand, those who protested against the authorities at the beginning of the Syrian crisis and were forced to return to Syria due to the unstable situation in Lebanon have been forcibly disappeared. Also, they have been killed under various pretexts in many cases.
The Fourth Division Represents Corruption in Syria
Waleed. S, 57 years old, a resident from a village in the northern countryside of Hama Governorate. He had been a refugee in Lebanon for about six years. He said that the dire and unstable situation in Lebanon forced him and his family to return to Syria. He confirmed that after passing al-Masnaa (Jdeidat Yabous) border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, he was forced to pay $180 at one of the Fourth Division checkpoints. He was returning with a group of Syrians who were transported by a bus from the Syrian-Lebanese border. However, each family paid amounts in dollars to the Fourth Division.
He added that most of the checkpoints spread along the road to Hama Governorate belong to the Fourth Division. The officers at those checkpoints impose transit fees in Syrian pounds (SYP). He paid SYP 250,000 to reach Hama with his family after waiting a long time at checkpoints for verifying their names.
“At one of the Fourth Division checkpoints after the location of the Homs refinery bridge and towards Hama, the officers arrested many young men under the pretext that they were wanted for mandatory military service. Despite presenting a proof of completing their mandatory military service, they were removed from the bus by officers in a humiliating manner. Regarding that situation, no one dared to intervene or seek clarification, as everyone was at risk of arbitrary arrest or enforced disappearance.” he said.
The Fourth Division Persecutes Syrians
The abuses against Syrians returning from Lebanon are not limited to paying exorbitant sums of money to the Fourth Division officers. There are also factual testimonies emphasize harassment, forcibly disappearance, and killing of Syrians by the Fourth Division.
Najat. W, 37 years old, a resident from Homs. She used to work in Beirut for an exchange company. The shelling of Beirut forced her to return to Syria.
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“After a night of intense shelling and due to the pressure by my family, I, along with three girls and a Syrian young man, rented a taxi to return to Syria. Traveling from Beirut to al-Masnaa crossing was seamless, but once we crossed into Syria, the situation changed dramatically,” Najat. W. said.
“After crossing al-Masnaa border crossing and heading towards Homs, we were stopped at a checkpoint belonging to the Fourth Division. That happened after waiting about an hour and a half in line, where we reached the checkpoint. Three officers were standing at the checkpoint. They took our IDs and one of them went to a nearby room for verifying our names,” Najat. W. added.
“Meanwhile, one of the officers asked us money for a safe return to the homeland. So, I and the three girls offered him Syrian pounds, but he refused and asked for dollars. Therefore, we gave him $50. As for the young man, who is from al-Rastan city, he gave him $100. Then the officer who had taken the IDs returned and asked the young man to get out from the taxi,”
“The checkpoint officers attacked the young man and started beating him brutally. Even the taxi driver tried to ask about what was happening, but one of the officers told him to not intervene.” Najat. W. mentioned. She emphasized that the officers took the young man to one of the Fourth Division’s prison because he was opponent to the Syrian regime.
The Syrian authorities claim providing all necessaries for a safe return for Syrians in a message directed at the international community.
On the other hand, the Syrian authorities, security forces, and the Fourth Division actually persecute the Syrians returning from Lebanon. Those who escaped the shelling in Lebanon still faced the Fourth Division’s abuses. Syrians face this tragic reality that will never end as long as this oppressive regime and its security forces remain in power. In fact, their goal is to humiliate Syrians by all means.
