Syrian Journalists Trapped Between Repression and Deportation in Türkiye

November 12, 2024 – Syria/Turkey –

Syrian journalists living in perceived safety within Türkiye face an escalating crackdown marked by harassment, legal threats, and forced deportations. According to the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC), the Turkish authorities—leveraging anti-terrorism laws and migration protocols—have begun interrogating, detaining, and pressuring Syrian reporters, accusing them of overstaying visas or “spreading propaganda.”

Reportedly, journalists have been summoned to police stations, where they face warnings that any critical reporting—especially on Turkish politics or refugee policy—could result in deportation to Syria. One journalist described living in fear: “If I go out, I risk getting… sent back.” This risk is grave, as deportees may encounter arbitrary detention, torture, or even execution upon return to regime-controlled Syria.

These actions form part of a wider pattern of repression against refugees in Türkiye. Human Rights Watch has documented practices involving coerced “voluntary” return, where Syrians—including journalists—are pressured into signing deportation notices and forcibly relocated to remote areas like Tel Abyad, often under harsh conditions. The looming threat of deportation has prompted calls from SJAC for EU countries to establish visa pathways to safeguard Syrian journalists and activists at risk.

The current Turkish climate, marked by a repressive media environment and legal tools wielded against dissent, leaves little room for Syrian journalists. Turkey ranks among the world’s worst in press freedom, having detained more than 90 local media workers since 2018. Syrians, especially those working with independent outlets from exile communities in Gaziantep and Istanbul, are caught between a hostile host government and the brutal regime they fled.

In conclusion, Syrian journalists in Türkiye are exposed to a double bind: silenced through fear of deportation to Syria—including possible detention or worse—while also living under restrictive Turkish laws that stifle free expression. Advocacy groups are urging international actors to expand visa protections and pressure Türkiye to uphold its non-refoulement obligations, ensuring media workers can continue critical reporting without fear for their lives.

Reference –

https://syriaaccountability.org/syrian-journalists-face-deportation-and-repression-in-turkiye/