Afghan migrants say they were beaten with iron rods by Turkish border guards and left in sub-zero conditions, causing at least 20 people to freeze to death and 11 men and boys—including a 13-year-old,to lose limbs to frostbite. The group, all aged 25 or under, was eventually returned to Afghanistan.

Migrant Accounts of Brutality and Neglect

Shahsawar, 21, recounted waking in a Kabul hospital to discover both his hands and legs had been amputated. ‘I raised my hands,they felt light. Both had been cut off,’ he said. ‘My throat closed up and I couldn’t speak.’ Alwaldin, 23, added that Turkish border guards forced the migrants to carry wood and clear snow while giving them only water and dry bread once a day.

The group was arrested in mid-January after people smugglers helped them cross the Iranian border into Van, where temperatures dropped to -15°C. Shahsawar was detained immediately upon entering the city. Turkish border guards lined them up and beat them. On 25 January, they were again lined up and beaten with iron bars, according to the BBC.

Turkish Authorities’ Response and Allegations

Turkish authorities did not directly address the allegations. The foreign ministry stated that border forces followed national and international laws and provided detained undocumented migrants with food, water, and medical care. However, the migrants’ accounts describe a pattern of physical abuse and inadequate care, including being kept in a warehouse where snow fell on them for several nights.

Alwaldin said he could not contact his family or the trafficker who had promised to take him to Europe. The incidents reflect a broader pattern of violence and mistreatment reported by undocumented migrants attempting to cross into Turkey and onward to Europe.

Broader Context of Migrant Rights

These incidents come amid reports of other rights violations by border authorities. In a separate case, Greek coastguards have been charged over a 2023 migrant shipwreck in which an estimated 750 people left Libya for Italy. Only 104 survived, and survivors allege Greek officials caused the boat to capsize. The charges brought against Greek officials have been described as vindication by some survivors.

Such cases highlight the ongoing challenges faced by migrants and the need for improved protections and oversight. While governments assert compliance with international standards, firsthand accounts suggest a different reality, with severe consequences for those caught in the crossfire of border enforcement actions.