Human Rights Watch said on Monday that Iraq, Turkey and Jordan were pushing back Syrian refugees, urging these countries to fully open their borders to people seeking refuge.

Human Rights Watch said on Monday that Iraq, Turkey and Jordan were pushing back Syrian refugees, urging these countries to fully open their borders to people seeking refuge.

"Iraqi, Jordanian, and Turkish border guards are pushing back tens of thousands of people trying to flee Syria," the international rights group said, adding that the lives of those trying to flee were in danger.

"Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey have either closed numerous border crossings entirely or allowed only limited numbers of Syrians to cross, leaving tens of thousands stranded."

The UN says more than 1.7 million Syrians have fled the conflict in their country. The vast majority have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

But only Lebanon has kept an open-door policy for Syrian refugees, says HRW.
New York-based HRW stressed international law prohibits countries "from sending anyone back to -- or pushing back anyone trying to leave -- a country where their life or freedom would be threatened".

HRW urged donor countries to step up support to countries hosting Syrian refugees.

But "neither the pressure those countries are under due to rising refugee numbers, nor giving aid inside Syria, can justify violating people's basic right to seek asylum from persecution and other abuse," HRW stressed.