In a detention center in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, dozens of Syrian asylum seekers are facing a harrowing choice: either risk deportation to areas controlled by the Syrian regime, or serve 18 months in prison on charges of threatening Bulgarian national security.
Currently, 76 Syrians—among them eight children—are being held in harsh conditions at the Busmantsi detention center in Sofia, where they lack the basic means to survive and no clear path to freedom.
Abdul Basit al-Hassan, one of the detainees, spoke to Enab Baladi about their dire situation. He explained that the 76 Syrians are effectively caught between two grim options: signing a detention agreement that would lead to 18 months in prison, with three six-month extensions, on the grounds of “threatening Bulgarian national security” or agreeing to deportation to Syria, where they face the risk of arrest, torture, or even death. A representative from the Syrian embassy recently visited the center and informed the detainees that those who consented to deportation would be sent back to Syria within 21 days, once a sufficient number of detainees agreed to leave.
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Abdul Basit explained that some of the detainees were arrested while attempting to enter Bulgaria from Turkey, while others had been returned by European governments because they had already registered for asylum in Bulgaria.
“If we stay this winter in the center, we will die,” Abdul Basit said, describing the conditions in the detention center as unbearably harsh. The detainees are without proper heating, adequate food, clothing, or medical care.
Moreover, the guards at the center are reported to exploit the detainees’ dire needs, sometimes demanding small bribes in exchange for basic supplies. For example, a detainee might pay up to 100 euros just to have a small amount of vegetables smuggled into the facility.
In response to their worsening situation, the detainees are appealing to humanitarian and human rights organizations to intervene. They are calling for immediate assistance to address their “tragic” conditions and to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Syrian regime.
A week ago, a protest was held outside the Busmantsi detention center, organized by the informal coalition Solidarity with Migrants – Bulgaria. The protest called for an end to police violence, better access to healthcare, and the removal of restrictions on visitation to the detention center. Protesters, including refugee advocate Stefan Reichel, emphasized the need for medical supplies, medicine, and special dietary foods for the detainees. There were also calls for the release of the detainees and for their fundamental rights to be respected. Reichel, who has witnessed multiple deportations from Germany to Bulgaria, described the conditions in Bulgarian asylum centers as “terrifying,” citing reports of severe beatings, arbitrary arrests, and imprisonment of refugees.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
