Lebanon: An increase in hostility towards Syrian refugees will trigger a crisis with unimaginable consequences

Skyline International for Human Rights is concerned that the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has become more heated as media and political criticism against their presence rises and calls for their return to their home country grow.

In a statement released today, Saturday, Skyline points out that the current wave of escalation against Syrian refugees in Lebanon is relatively the largest in recent years, while the Lebanese authorities are trying to contain popular tensions by opening acts of forced deportation of Syrians whom the Lebanese state considers "lawbreakers" for various reasons, especially because they entered Lebanese territory "illegally."

Skyline notes that Lebanese authorities use illogical justifications to deport Syrian refugees back to the regions they fled due to the war, and they express surprise at government claims that the refugees entered the country illegally despite the fact that they are aware that most cases of refugees entering the country occur through unusual means. This reflects the genuine worry that tens of thousands of Syrians may be driven out of Lebanon under the guise of unlawful entrance.

The human rights foundation ''Skyline'', Lebanon's government have been using the refugee situation as leverage against the international community to get funds from the beginning of the Syrian refugee crisis. It notes that the latest escalation against Syrians is occurring on the eve of the "Brussels" summit to support Syria's future. Every year, in the presence of international donors, Syrians at home and in neighboring countries, as well as their host governments, receive financial assistance.

Skyline, for its part, condemns the deportation of several Syrians to Syria in the current month of April and the handover of these people to the Syrian government under various justifications such as lack of identity documents and "illegal" entry into Lebanon.

The Lebanese army is accused of carrying out deportation operations by handing over arrested Syrians to the border regiment, which then agrees to house them outside Lebanon's borders, despite the fact that several human rights organizations believe the army is not authorized to do so.

Skyline fears that the wave of hatred against Syrians in Lebanon will dominate the media scene, as the Lebanese media directs "racist" statements and accusations against the refugees. It refers to report prepared by MTV and published on April 12, which refers to Syrian refugees as "invaders" and talks about demographic changes that Lebanon will experience in the coming years, as the number of displaced Syrians will reach three million in four years.

In this context, Skyline stresses that the forced deportation of Syrian refugees by Lebanese authorities to conflict zones violates the principle of non-refoulement in customary international humanitarian law, which states that no one may be sent back to a country where he or she may be subjected to torture or persecution.

Skyline also emphasizes that the prevalence of racism and hate speech directed at Syrian refugees will lead to an unanticipated crisis. This is especially true in light of the numerous incidents in which Lebanese citizens beat, insulted, and otherwise attacked Syrians, resulting in the deaths of dozens of them. These incidents occurred in various cities throughout Lebanon. acceptable.

Skyline calls on Lebanese authorities to reject racist rhetoric, to stop using the refugee situation in Lebanon as a means for the international community to gain financial benefits at the expense of the crisis in Lebanon and Syrian refugees who have suffered equally from their humanity, and to stop directly deporting Syrian refugees. It also calls on them to hold accountable all media and news sites that spread hate speech against Syrian refugees.