Lebanese Officials Unite Against Syrian Refugees Amid Escalating Tensions

The assassination of Pascal Sleiman, a Lebanese political party official, on April 25, 2024, has ignited a firestorm of anti-Syrian sentiment in Lebanon, with officials across the political spectrum calling for the return of Syrian refugees. In the wake of Sleiman's murder, which the Lebanese army claimed was carried out by Syrian nationals, tens of thousands of Syrians in Lebanon have gone into hiding due to increased hostility and aggression from Lebanese individuals and groups, particularly the Lebanese Forces party.

Syrians have become the scapegoat for Lebanon's struggles, cope, new economic crisis, with hate speech from media, politicians, and religious leaders fueling tensions. The violence has manifested in various forms, including threats of eviction, random street attacks, and even kidnappings. "Syrians in Lebanon have reportedly been beaten and faced demands to leave their homes, with some municipalities imposing discriminatory curfews," according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has called on Lebanese communities to refrain from wrongfully blaming Syrians and to protect them. The UN reported that 13,772 individuals were deported from Lebanon or pushed back at the border with Syria in 2023. Lebanese authorities have also been accused of arbitrary detention, torture, and forced return of Syrian refugees in recent months.

Why this matters: The escalating tensions and violence against Syrian refugees in Lebanon threaten to further destabilize the country and potentially lead to a humanitarian crisis. The international community must closely monitor the situation and urge the Lebanese government to protect the rights of refugees and prevent forced deportations.

Between January and March 2024, the Lebanese Armed Forces and the General Directorate of General Security forcibly returned a Syrian army defector and an opposition activist to Syria, where they face a risk of persecution. The article highlights the cases of three Syrian men - Rafaat al Faleh, Muaz al Waer, and Yassin al Atr - who were either deported or faced deportation orders. "The arbitrary and unlawful actions taken by Lebanese authorities against Syrian refugees violate their rights and put them at risk of harm," stated Human Rights Watch researcher Sara Kayyali.

Key Takeaways

• Assassination of Lebanese official sparks anti-Syrian sentiment, attacks on refugees.
• Syrians scapegoated for Lebanon's economic crisis, facing threats, violence, and deportation.
• UN calls on Lebanon to protect Syrian refugees, stop forced deportations and returns.
• Lebanese authorities accused of arbitrary detention, torture, and forced return of refugees.
• Escalating tensions threaten further destabilization and a potential humanitarian crisis.