The Story of Bodies Discovered on the Iran-Turkey Border
Turkish media reported that bodies have been discovered in border areas between Turkey and Iran, with the identities of most of them unknown. According to local officials and migration experts, these bodies belong to illegal Iranian and Afghan migrants.
Turkey’s Anadolu News Agency reported on Tuesday, April 30 (Ordibehesht 9) about the discovery of two bodies in border areas of Turkey’s Van province near Iran. Turkish gendarmerie forces in the Baş Kale district of Van province transferred the discovered bodies, which belonged to two illegal migrants, to the Van province forensic medicine department.
The news agency had previously reported the discovery of six bodies at a distance of two kilometers from the Gol-Luk border patrol area between Turkey and Iran. Anadolu stated in its report that nine other male bodies had been discovered in this area previously.
Turkish media did not provide information about the identities of the discovered bodies but reported that these bodies were found in April.
Dr. Zakera Hikmat, an advocate for Afghan refugee rights in Turkey and a founding member of the “Association of Solidarity and Compassion with Afghan Refugees,” told Deutsche Welle Farsi that these bodies belong to citizens of Afghanistan and Iran who illegally migrated to Turkey.
The main office of the Association of Solidarity and Compassion with Afghan Refugees is located in the city of Kayseri, Turkey, and has branches in 65 cities across Turkey.
Ms. Hikmat continued her remarks, emphasizing: “The discovery of bodies has happened before and we witness this situation every year. When refugees want to enter Turkey illegally, they are forced to cross the mountainous border areas of Turkey. When migrants travel this route on foot, they face difficulties and some of them get buried under several meters of snow, freeze to death from the severe cold, and die. Snow covers their bodies but later when the snow melts, local people discover them by the smell of the bodies and report it to the gendarmerie.”
According to Zakera Hikmat, in April of this year, the number of discovered bodies was higher compared to previous years.
Regarding the identities of the discovered bodies, Ms. Hikmat said: “Unfortunately, most of the discovered bodies are unidentified. These people do not have birth certificates or identity cards. However, we know that among the discovered bodies there are Iranians, and most of these people are Afghan refugees, because Afghan refugees choose the illegal route, but Iranians can enter Turkey without a visa and also legally.”
Hikmat told Deutsche Welle Farsi that families from Afghanistan contact their association and consult about receiving the bodies. “Survivors bear the costs of transferring these bodies to their country.”
According to Zakera Hikmat, conditions have worsened inside Afghanistan and people have lost hope for the future and resort to migration. This advocate for refugee rights in Turkey emphasized: “Human traffickers also provide migrants with incorrect information. For example, when these people enter Turkey, they contact our association and ask about cars and houses that traffickers have promised them.”
Source: DW
