ANKARA (AFP) -
Turkey
on Saturday vehemently rejected accusations by Amnesty International
that it was forcibly returning Syrian refugees to the conflict-torn
country, as Ankara prepares to take back, under an EU deal, Syrians who
travelled illegally to Greece.
"The allegations do not reflect
reality in any way," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
"It is sad that this kind of news was shared with the public (by the
media) in such an intense way," it added.
Amnesty International
accused Turkey on Friday of illegally forcing groups of some one hundred
Syrians a day to return home, saying the alleged expulsions showed the
"fatal flaws" in the migrant deal agreed with the EU.
Greece is due on Monday to start sending back to Turkey all migrants, including Syrians, who crossed the Aegean Sea illegally.
Amnesty said its revelations showed Turkey was not a "safe country" for Syrian refugees to return to.
But
the Turkish foreign ministry insisted there was "no change" in the
open-door policy that for the last years has allowed any Syrian fleeing
the civil war there to seek refuge in the country.
"Turkey is
committed to continue to provide protection to Syrians fleeing violence
and instability under its international obligations," it added.
© 2016 AFP
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