Rights group accuses Turkey of deploying Syrian children to battlefields

Ali Rajab

Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights threw light recently on Turkey’s exploitation of children in the areas it occupies in northern Syria.

In a report, the foundation denounces the international community for failing to protect civilians in Syria.

This, it says in the report, has emboldened pro-Turkey militias to commit systematic crimes and violations of international law.

These violations include the recruitment of children through a series of complicated methods, including by force. Children recruited by the Turkey-backed militias are then deployed to the frontlines in different areas. This has caused the death and injury of hundreds of children, Maat said in its report.

The children fight and staff checkpoints and are used in logistical support. They are also forced to work as servants for older militants. The pro-Turkey militias also use the children in surveillance and espionage operations.

A number of social factors make the recruitment of children easy in the areas controlled by Turkey in northern Syria, Maat said. Some of the children are even transferred to Libya where they also fight alongside militias sponsored by Turkey, the foundation added.

It noted that Turkey enlists services from a number of defense companies that are active in the recruitment of children under the age of 18.

The report refers to direct involvement by the Turkish government in the recruitment of Syrian children. It says the Turkish government is also directly involved in transferring the children to the battlefield in Libya.