Afghan migrants say Turkish police beat them with iron rods before they lost limbs to frostbite

Europe Health Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:43:07 GMT High confidence — 78/100

Image caption, Twenty-one-year-old Shahsawar's legs and hands were ultimately amputatedByMamoon DurraniBBC Afghan ForensicWarning: This article contains images and descriptions of violence that some readers may find distressing.
A dozen young Afghans who tried to reach Europe in January have told the BBC they were among a group of 50 migrants beaten and stripped by Turkish border guards before being stranded in the snow.
They say they were forced from the eastern Turkish city of Van towards the Iranian border, where temperatures were sub-zero.

Image caption, Twenty-one-year-old Shahsawar's legs and hands were ultimately amputatedByMamoon DurraniBBC Afghan ForensicWarning: This article contains images and descriptions of violence that some readers may find distressing.
A dozen young Afghans who tried to reach Europe in January have told the BBC they were among a group of 50 migrants beaten and stripped by Turkish border guards before being stranded in the snow.
They say they were forced from the eastern Turkish city of Van towards the Iranian border, where temperatures were sub-zero.

Sources: BBC News