Human Rights Watch Lebanon Tuesday slammed revenge attacks by Lebanese on Syrian refugees in response to the execution of Army captives following clashes between the Army and Syrian militants.
“The authorities in Lebanon are failing to take adequate steps to prevent and to prosecute increasing violence by private citizens against Syrians following the outbreak of clashes in Arsal in August, 2014,” HRW said in a report. “The attacks against Syrians, most of them refugees, are being carried out in a climate of official indifference and discrimination, with the violence appearing in some cases to be attempts to expel Syrians from specific neighborhoods or to enforce curfews.”
The organization said it had documented 11 violent attacks in August and September against unarmed Syrians, or even against “those perceived to be Syrian by private Lebanese citizens,” including attacks carried out with guns and knives.
According to the report, all victims were targeted as a direct result of their actual or perceived Syrian nationality.
“All victims indicated that they did not trust the Lebanese authorities to protect them or to investigate the attacks,” the report added. “In at least four cases, witnesses reported that the attacks took place in full view of Lebanese security forces, who did not intervene.”
Human Rights Watch interviewed 10 victims, 5 relatives or friends of victims and 7 humanitarian workers assisting Syrian refugees during a two month period. However, the group added that local media have reported, and aid workers have documented, dozens of similar attacks throughout Lebanon.
“When I first arrived, Lebanese people were very hospitable to me,” one Syrian refugee told Human Rights Watch. “They treated me like a refugee, someone who needed protection and had fled from the war. Now they treat me as if I am a terrorist or a security threat.”
“Attacking Syrian refugees won’t bring back the abducted soldiers or solve the country’s refugee crisis,” said Nadim Houry, HRW’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. “The attacks on Syrian refugees will only increase their misery and add to instability and insecurity in Lebanon.”
The report called on government officials to issue official statements condemning the violence and calling for those responsible for the attacks to be held accountable.
“Officials should refrain from issuing any statements that risk inciting violence and instead should condemn such attacks and call for accountability,” Human Rights Watch said.
The report also called on the national government to provide more guidance to municipalities on how to manage relations with refugees, and to monitor their behavior.
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