HRW Report Accuses EU of Funding Rights Abuses

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the European Union (EU) of facilitating human rights violations against Syrian refugees by funding Lebanese security forces that forcibly deport refugees back to Syria and push them back from Cyprus. The HRW report, which is based on testimonies from 16 refugees, found that many faced abuse, arbitrary detention, and violent expulsion attempts by Lebanese and Cypriot authorities. Despite acknowledging potential human rights violations, the European Commission continues to fund training and infrastructure for these security forces, raising concerns about compliance with human rights standards. The report highlights the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, which is already overwhelmed with around 775,000 registered refugees amidst a severe financial crisis since 2019. Additionally, Cyprus has suspended processing asylum claims for Syrians and has been criticized for forcibly returning boats carrying asylum seekers. HRW calls for the EU to implement independent monitoring to ensure that its aid does not support these abuses.