Turkey fined for violating rights of Syrian refugee by expelling him
June 21, 2022, 5:56 pm

Turkey fined for violating rights of Syrian refugee by expelling him

Syrians cross into Turkey through the Cilvegozu border gate, located opposite the Syrian commercial crossing point Bab al-Hawa, in Reyhanli, Hatay province, Turkey, February 28, 2020. (Reuters)

The Alarabiya English reported, citing Reuters, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday (June 21) that Turkey had unlawfully repatriated a Syrian refugee after forcing him to sign a document that said he was returning voluntarily.

The Strasbourg-based court ordered Turkey to pay around 12,250 euros ($12,940) including costs and expenses to Muhammad Fawzi Akkad, who has now applied for asylum in Germany.

There was no immediate reaction from Turkish authorities, which have previously denied sending Akkad back to Syria against his will.

The ECHR said Akkad had fled the war in Syria to Turkey in 2014 and was arrested as he tried to cross the Greek border in June 2018.

It siad that he was brought to Hatay province, near the Syrian border, and made to sign a document he did not understand, and which turned out be a form for his voluntary return.

Akkad said he was detained and beaten by armed militants in Syria but later released. He went back to Turkey in July 2018 and later managed to travel to Germany.

EASO: new report on the situation of returnees and the return of Syrian refugees

The court ruled that Akkad had suffered inhuman or degrading treatment, along with other rights violations.

Turkey hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, the world’s largest refugee population.

Public sentiment has turned against the refugees as Turkey’s economic woes mount, prompting the government to work on plans to re-settle up to one million Syrians in northwest Syria after building cinderblock houses there.

Lebanon urges international support for quick, safe return of Syrian refugees

The plans have not gathered international support and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says conditions in Syria are not suitable for mass voluntary returns.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”