Turkey detained, mistreated scores of migrants: Amnesty InternationalDecember 16, 2015 - 16:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has detained and mistreated scores of migrants, pressuring some to return to war zones, a new report by Amnesty International says, according to BBC News. The group says EU pressure on Turkey to stem migration to Europe has resulted in the "forcible transportation" of hundreds of migrants. Pressuring them to return was in breach of international law, the Amnesty report said. Turkey "categorically denied" any Syrian migrant had been forced home. In the report, released on Wednesday, December 16, Amnesty blames the EU's "recklessness" and says it should suspend "Action Plan" - the EU-Turkey migration deal signed in November - until human rights obligations are met. It also calls on richer countries to take in more migrants. Turkey has become a major transit point for people fleeing Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and hoping to reach northern Europe. On Wednesday, two Iraqi children were found dead in the Aegean Sea after trying to reach Greece, Dogan news agency said. Amnesty says more than 100 migrants were forced to return to Syria and Iraq in recent months, but that the number may be higher. The report also documents several cases of migrants being detained without explanation. They claim to have been denied contact to lawyers and families. Turkey hosts the largest number of migrants in the world, with over 2m registered Syrian migrants living in the country. On 29 November, it signed a deal with the EU to stem the flow of migrants to Europe. In return, European leaders agreed to "re-energise" talks over Turkey joining the EU. BBC said there was reluctance among EU members at the time due to concerns about Turkey's human rights record. Photo: Getty Images Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |