A recent investigation by Lighthouse Reports, along with international media outlets, has accused Turkey of violating the rights of refugees and migrants in EU-funded deportation centers. The report alleges that Syrians and Afghans have been forced into signing documents for voluntary repatriation and deported under dangerous conditions to war-torn countries like Syria and Afghanistan. The European Union has denied these claims.
The report, co-published by media outlets such as El País, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, and L’Espresso, highlighted allegations of systematic abuses, including beatings, lack of legal aid, overcrowding, and poor sanitary conditions in these centers. Lighthouse Reports noted that the EU had funneled €213 million into the construction and upkeep of about 30 removal centers in Turkey, with nearly €1 billion allocated since 2007 for managing migration flows.
One of the most troubling aspects of the investigation is the claim that many detainees were pressured into signing voluntary repatriation documents, or had them signed without their consent. Out of the 100 sources interviewed, 37 former detainees shared their experiences of detention in 22 different centers. Two deaths following deportations were also reported—one involving an Afghan army officer who was killed by the Taliban after his deportation, and a Syrian man killed in detention in 2024.
Turkey, home to over three million Syrian and Afghan refugees, has long been involved in a 2016 agreement with the EU to block undocumented migrants from reaching Europe. In return, the EU provides financial assistance to Turkey to manage the migrants within its borders.
In response to the report, the European Commission emphasized that the funding for repatriation centers complies with international and European standards. While the EU acknowledges Turkey’s responsibility in ensuring the rights of refugees, it has urged Turkish authorities to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
The Turkish migration management directorate has rejected the accusations, stating that deportations are carried out in accordance with national and international law, and that all returns to Syria are voluntary. It further denied claims of forced signatures on repatriation documents, calling the allegations “untrue.”