11 Afghan Migrants Lose Limbs After Alleged Turkish Pushback in -15C Cold
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 1
11 Afghan Migrants Lose Limbs After Alleged Turkish Pushback in -15C Cold
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 1
Summary
Eleven Afghan men and boys, including a 13-year-old, told the BBC they lost limbs to frostbite after Turkish border guards allegedly beat, stripped and forced them back toward Iran in January.
Around 50 migrants said they were detained near Van, held for days with little food, then on 25 January were beaten with iron bars and pushed through barbed wire into heavy snow with temperatures near -15C.
At least 20 people in the group froze to death, the survivors said; Shahsawar, 21, later awoke in a Kabul hospital to find both hands and both legs amputated.
Iranian hospitals allegedly refused treatment, and the stranded Afghans were moved only after the Afghan embassy in Tehran intervened on 29 January and the Red Crescent transferred them to Herat and then Kabul.
Turkey's foreign ministry denied wrongdoing, saying border forces follow national and international law, while migrant-rights advocates said similar pushbacks and abuse of Afghans have been reported since 2021.
Advanced medicine can now save frostbitten limbs. Why did these migrants face death and amputation instead?
When migrants die at a border, who is truly accountable: the guards, the state, or the policy?
With international law forbidding 'pushbacks,' why do they systematically continue at Europe's fortified borders?
Aftermath of the January 2026 Afghan Migrant Crisis: Abuse, Legal Failures, and the Precarious Future in Turkey and Beyond
Overview
In January 2026, 11 Afghan migrants, including a 13-year-old, suffered amputations at Turkey’s border, but as of July 2026, there is still little public information about their medical or psychological condition. No reports detail ongoing care or targeted humanitarian support for these survivors. This reflects the broader challenges faced by Afghan migrants in Türkiye, where restrictive refugee policies and limited legal protections leave many in precarious situations. The lack of transparency and support highlights systemic issues in Turkey’s migration management, leaving vulnerable individuals without adequate aid or accountability after such traumatic events.