The tragedy of those forcibly deported from Turkey to Tal Abyad, northwestern Raqqa, intensifies after learning that they signed their deportation papers accompanied by “security codes” on their files that permanently prevent them from entering Turkey. The most serious of these codes are related to “national security threat and terrorism.”

In the border town controlled by the Syrian Interim Government (SIG), those deported from Turkey face difficult living conditions, compounded by scams during their attempts to leave the besieged area, especially if they are not originally from there.

The deportation process was a pivotal point in the lives of dozens, pushing some back to “square one,” despite possessing proof of identity through temporary protection cards (kimlik) or work permits, even for those who had lived in Turkey for years and sought stability, even temporarily, for themselves and their families.

Forbidden from returning

After living in Turkey for over eight years without committing any violations, “Mohammad” (a pseudonym for security reasons) found himself accused of “terrorism” and was beaten until he was forced to sign documents he couldn’t understand, ultimately being deported to Tal Abyad.

The young man from Homs said that a dispute with the factory owner where he worked led to his deportation to Tal Abyad. He cannot return to Turkey due to the “terrorism code” known as “G-87” on his file, which permanently blocks him from entering Turkey.

Mohammad told Enab Baladi that his family and children are still in Turkey, and he doesn’t know when or how he will reunite with them. Currently, he is enduring difficult conditions with no job opportunities in Tal Abyad.

Abdul Karim, another young man who was forcibly deported from Turkey to Tal Abyad with no clear legal reason, told Enab Baladi that he had been living with his family in Mersin since 2015. After they went to update their data, they were detained at the immigration center for more than a month, where they were forced to sign “voluntary return” papers.

After that, Abdul Karim noticed the “terrorism code” on all his family’s documents. He pointed out that he is currently living in Tal Abyad with his family in a school lacking most basic services.

He mentioned facing difficulties in securing the simplest family needs and lacks any local or humanitarian support.

The G-87 code

The “G-87 code” is a restriction code that prevents foreigners from entering Turkey indefinitely. Practically, it is known as the “public safety law,” and relevant authorities determine situations and statements that are considered threats to public safety.

The restriction law “G-87” is imposed by the General Directorate of Migration Management, border officials, and other related authorities if there is suspicion that a foreigner poses a threat to Turkey’s public safety.

Concrete evidence must be found before deporting any foreigner with the “G-87” code or indefinitely banning them from entering Turkey. In such cases, certain documents and intelligence reports are required.

However, it is noted that foreigners are often deported based on suspicion without concrete evidence, necessitating the legal removal of the code, according to legal data published by Turkish law firms.

Exploitation and fraud

According to Enab Baladi‘s monitoring, many individuals linked to the Syrian National Army (SNA) exploit deportees from Turkey by convincing them at the border that they will be transferred to other areas inside Syria.

These individuals impose high fees for crossing to these areas, and some become victims of scams or financial extortion, charged additional amounts beyond the agreed fee.

“Saeed,” a pseudonym for a young man deported by Turkish authorities to Tal Abyad, told Enab Baladi that he was subjected to threats upon arriving in Syrian territory by faction members who threatened to arrest or abduct him if he had issues in Turkey.

After receiving these threats, they offered to transfer him to a “smuggler” affiliated with them for $500 to be transported from Tal Abyad to Jarablus in Aleppo countryside, controlled by the National Army as well.

He paid $300 of the demanded $500, but the smuggler did not secure his crossing and left him in Tal Abyad, not returning the money, exploiting his own security dominance. The young man remains stranded, awaiting any solution to move him.

Ibrahim, another young deportee to Tal Abyad, an area he didn’t know previously, is from al-Bab city in eastern Aleppo countryside.

Ibrahim told Enab Baladi that members of the Sham Legion faction stopped him at the Tal Abyad border and demanded $500 to secure his transfer to al-Bab city.

He paid the amount but was left in an unknown area near Tal Abyad without any help.

He noted that he remains stranded in Tal Abyad, unable to return to his city or retrieve his money, suffering from difficult conditions without work or support to reach his family in al-Bab.

Enab Baladi contacted the media office of the Sham Legion for a response to these accusations but received no reply by the time of publication.

Continuous deportation

Border crossings with Turkey witness daily deportations of Syrians from Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salamah, Tal Abyad, and Jarablus.

Deportation operations violate international law and the temporary protection law under which Syrians in Turkey fall.

Conversely, the Turkish government denies the existence of forced deportations, describing its policy as “exemplary” in dealing with refugees.

The number of Syrians in Turkey under temporary protection is 3,095,039 according to the latest statistics from the Turkish Presidency of Migration Management on September 5.

A source at the Tal Abyad crossing (requested anonymity for security reasons) told Enab Baladi that 2,120 people returned from Turkey to Syria between last August and September 6. Among them, 730 were forcibly deported.

Some border crossings with Turkey, including Tal Abyad, refrain from mentioning terms like “deportation” or “forced return,” categorizing deportees as “voluntary returnees,” despite Turkish authorities leading these individuals and handing them over to crossing authorities.

Tal Abyad has a population of 138,465, mostly facing financial difficulties due to limited job opportunities, with the majority relying on agriculture and livestock.

In 2019, Turkey and the National Army controlled all of Tal Abyad and its eastern countryside, along with part of its southern countryside up to the M4 international highway and part of the western countryside extending 15 kilometers, within Turkey’s Peace Spring military operation.

Limited support for deportees

After working in Turkey for years, deportees find themselves in fragile economic and living conditions without assistance or organizations to support them.

Waleed al-Jameeli, an administrator in the Al-Rashid humanitarian organization in Tal Abyad, said many Syrian deportees to Tal Abyad suffer from harsh and difficult conditions, and the organization has exerted every effort to provide support despite limited resources.

He told Enab Baladi that the organization provided financial aid to deportees in installments, but these amounts are insufficient to meet all their needs due to the continuous increase in deportations.

The organization provided daily iftar meals during Ramadan (last April) through the Al-Rashid Charity Kitchen and additional support, including hygiene kits and food baskets.

Al-Jameeli highlighted that deportations continue, and the organization strives to alleviate these individuals’ suffering within available means.