Afghan migrants seeking to reach Europe have reported alleged beatings by Turkish police with iron rods, leading to severe frostbite and subsequent amputations, according to accounts compiled by human rights activists. These migrants claim they were stripped of their clothing and had their hands bound in sub-zero temperatures after being pushed back into Iran from the Turkish border region of Van.
Şafak Bozkurt, chair of the Van Bar Association Human Rights Centre Migration and Asylum Commission, stated that such push-back incidents, along with cases of hypothermia, are familiar in the region. Zakira Hikmat, an activist based in Turkey, noted that similar incidents have been reported by Afghan migrants since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021. Hikmat suggested that increased border surveillance in Turkey has forced migrants to adopt more perilous routes.
Mahmout Keçen, another activist focusing on migrant rights in Van, described the mountainous terrain, commonly used by Afghans entering Turkey without authorization, as necessitating crossings under difficult and risky weather conditions. He has handled numerous cases involving Afghan and other migrants who alleged mistreatment, push-backs, denial of access to asylum procedures, and forced returns near the Iran-Turkey border.
The Turkish foreign ministry has denied these allegations, calling them unfounded and stating they unfairly cast a shadow on Turkey's efforts to combat irregular migration. The ministry asserted that Turkey aims to implement a human-centered migration management system compatible with civilizational values, balancing security and freedom, given its geopolitical location and substantial migrant population. The ministry also claimed that Turkey's measures have nearly halted irregular migration flows towards the European Union.
Iranian authorities have also been approached for comment on the matter. The reports detail harrowing experiences, including accusations of being left with no shoes, socks, or coats in freezing conditions, resulting in some individuals losing fingers and toes to frostbite. The journey described by the migrants typically begins with detention in Van, followed by forced crossings into Iran, overland transfer to Herat province, and finally, transport to Kabul.
One 13-year-old migrant, identified only as Asim, recounted his ordeal after being beaten and left to freeze, resulting in the amputation of his lower legs. Another migrant, Shahsawar, 21, reportedly lost all four limbs. These accounts highlight the severe consequences faced by individuals attempting to cross borders under harsh conditions.