Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Face Intensifying Crackdown as Rights Group Sounds Alarm

Syrian refugees in Lebanon are facing a sharp escalation in human rights violations, including mass arrests, forced deportations, and discriminatory taxation, according to a new report by Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC).

The group is calling on both Lebanese and Syrian authorities to urgently intervene and protect refugees' rights, warning that current practices are in breach of international law and could spark a wider humanitarian crisis.

The group’s alarm comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Beirut and Damascus, including a high-level meeting on April 14 between Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. The summit was expected to chart a new course for cooperation on shared challenges — chief among them the protracted refugee crisis — yet, rights groups report that violations against refugees have only intensified in its wake. “The continuation of abusive practices — even after diplomatic overtures — shows a dangerous lack of political will to protect vulnerable populations,” WJWC said in a statement.

Mass Arrests and Forced Deportations

Over a two-day period on April 14 and 15, WJWC documented the arrest of at least 162 Syrian nationals across Lebanon. Many were detained during aggressive raids by the Lebanese army and intelligence services in towns including Dahr al-Ahmar, Kaukaba and Bar Elias. These operations involved the forced entry into shelters, confiscation of mobile phones and motorcycles, and the detention of dozens of men lacking valid residency documents.

At least 40 of those arrested were forcibly deported to Syria via the Masnaa border crossing, raising alarm among humanitarian agencies and legal experts. In a separate incident on April 14, military intelligence forces raided informal refugee gatherings in al-Mansoura, Hermel, following a stabbing incident. Ten refugees were detained for questioning, and reports later emerged of retaliatory beatings against Syrian residents, triggering a wave of panic and displacement. On April 15 alone, 108 more Syrians were arrested in scattered raids across Lebanon. Of these, 105 were accused of entering the country illegally.

Discriminatory Taxes and Threats of Eviction

Beyond police action, WJWC also reported systemic financial discrimination against refugees. In Deir El-Ahmar, local municipal authorities dismantled a refugee’s tent because he could not pay a $20 monthly tax. Other residents of the al-Bayader camp were threatened with eviction and demolition of their shelters if they failed to settle back payments.

Such actions, the organization stressed, constitute violations of Article 29 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which prohibits host states from levying taxes or fees on refugees that differ from those imposed on nationals. The group also cited Article 33 of the same convention, which enshrines the principle of non-refoulement — barring the expulsion of refugees to countries where they may face persecution or harm.

Political Deadlock and the Weaponization of the Refugee Crisis

WJWC accused successive Lebanese governments of mismanaging the refugee file and fanning xenophobic rhetoric instead of developing humane policies. The group pointed to a legacy of discriminatory language, including a 2019 statement by then-Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil advocating for preferential treatment of Lebanese citizens in employment and housing over “Syrian, Palestinian, French, Saudi, Iranian or American” nationals.

Former President Michel Aoun previously estimated that the refugee crisis had cost Lebanon over $19 billion, compared to roughly $9.7 billion in received aid. In December 2024, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reiterated calls for the mass return of refugees, citing economic pressures but offering no assurances of safe or voluntary repatriation.

“These narratives ignore Lebanon’s legal and ethical obligations, and instead scapegoat refugees for broader structural and economic failings,” WJWC argued.

A Decade of Displacement, Growing Desperation

More than 1.5 million Syrian refugees currently reside in Lebanon — over 750,000 of them registered with the United Nations. Many arrived after fleeing the brutal crackdown by Bashar al-Assad’s regime during the 2011 uprising. A 2020 UNHCR assessment found that 90% of Syrian refugee households in Lebanon live in extreme poverty, a figure that has only worsened amid Lebanon’s economic collapse.

Despite the collapse of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, which alleviated some concerns about arbitrary detention upon return, rights groups warn that Syria remains unstable and unsafe. In May 2024, the Lebanese Parliament called for an “end to the presence of refugees,” further pressuring thousands to return home under duress — often without international oversight or guarantees of safety.

International Complicity and Growing European Pressure

WJWC expressed alarm at the role of international actors, particularly European governments, in what it described as the growing externalization of refugee deterrence. The organization cited reports of EU cooperation with Lebanese authorities to prevent refugees from traveling to Europe and to facilitate deportations back to Syria, despite the potential risks of imprisonment or torture. 

WJWC emphasized that "the refugee crisis must not be reduced to a political bargaining chip; the human cost is simply too high." In its closing appeal, the organization urged both the Lebanese and Syrian governments to immediately halt forced deportations and arbitrary arrests, end discriminatory taxation and threats against refugee shelters, and ensure the humane treatment of refugees in line with international law. 

It also called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid to refugee-hosting communities, expand legal protection mechanisms for displaced populations, and resist the politicization of humanitarian issues. Finally, WJWC appealed to rights organizations and civil society to document violations, establish emergency support channels, and advocate for durable, rights-based solutions. "This is not just a legal matter — it is a humanitarian imperative," WJWC concluded. "The lives, dignity, and futures of millions hang in the balance."