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Human Rights Watch urges Turkey to take in refugees fleeing ISIS

Human Rights Watch has urged Turkey to allow thousands of Syrians fleeing fighting between rebels and ISIS to cross the Turkish border to seek protection.

'As civilians flee ISIS fighters, Turkey is responding with live ammunition,' rights group alleges

The Associated Press ·
An internally displaced Syrian woman carries her belongings as she arrives at a refugee camp near the Bab al-Salam crossing, opposite the Turkey's Kilis province, on the outskirts of the northern border town of Azaz on Feb. 6. Human Rights Watch is urging Turkey to be more welcoming to Syrian refugees fleeing ISIS and civil war. (Osman Orsal/Reuters)

Human Rights Watch has urged Turkey to allow thousands of Syrians fleeing fighting between rebels and ISIS to cross the Turkish border to seek protection.

In a statement released late Thursday, the advocacy group quoted a Syrian refugee who said Turkish border guards shot at hundreds of people fleeing ISIS as they approached a border wall.

"As civilians flee ISIS fighters, Turkey is responding with live ammunition instead of compassion," said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The whole world is talking about fighting ISIS, and yet those most at risk of becoming victims of its horrific abuses are trapped on the wrong side of a concrete wall."

Turkish officials say they were aware of the report but had no immediate response.

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