Syrian boys walk shoulder to shoulder in the rain at the Boynuyogun refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay
Syrian boys walk shoulder to shoulder in the rain at the Boynuyogun refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay (Reuters) Reuters

A secret refugee camp where Syrians fleeing from Assad's crackdown are coerced into returning to Syria has been discovered just inside the Turkish border, according to a local newspaper.

Radikal daily reported on the camp in Kuyubaşı, just 1km from the border, which is not listed among the six official camps in the province.

The camp was allegedly set up as a deportation centre for Syrian immigrants who have "threatened the peaceful atmosphere" of other camps.

The newspaper quoted a civil servant working there who claimed that refugees had to "voluntarily" sign a document to send them into exile back over the border after staying in the camp for a few days.

Selim Maktap, president of the Turkish Medical Association, claimed that doctors were not allowed in the camp. "If someone is in need the authorities call the emergency number but no one can access the camp," he said.

The Turkish Red Crescent Society denied that the camp existed. "I have no record about this camp," Deniz Solen, local communications officer, told International Business Times UK. "Turkey has nothing to hide. All the camps are open to government people and diplomats. Even Angelina Jolie came to visit them. They are not open to everyone because of security reasons."

She also denied claims that Syrian refugees were forced back home.

"Nobody forces Syrian people to go," she said. "They are guests, so they are free to go if they want to."

Amnesty International called on the government to explain the Radikal claims. "It is very serious," Volkan Gorendag, refugee rights co-ordinator, said. "The Turkish government must give an explanation about whether there is this kind of a camp, the living conditions in the camp and the reason behind the foundation of that kind of camp."

About 12,000 refugees are registered in six camps across Turkey's Hatay province near the Syrian border.

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu has reiterated his country's pledge to help people fleeing the violence in Syria.

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