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An officer punched my 5-year-old son in the face
The main respondent, a 30-year-old man from Türkiye, was part of a group of 11 people, including six children (aged between 0 and 10) and five adults (aged 20–40), three of whom were women. The group was from Türkiye, Syria, and Nepal. Although they contacted a Croatian NGO for legal assistance, the group was intercepted by Croatian authorities, prevented from requesting asylum, subjected to physical violence, and pushed back from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 28th of April.
On the morning of the same day, the group traveled by taxi for approximately 40 minutes and arrived near the Croatian border at 9:00 am. They then crossed the border on foot and walked through a forested area for about 30 minutes.
Prior to their journey, they had intended to cross independently without smugglers. They had contacted a Croatian NGO, advising them to send their location and personal details once they entered Croatian territory. The NGO stated it would notify the police to take them to a registration camp.
On the morning of the same day, the group traveled by taxi for approximately 40 minutes and arrived near the Croatian border at 9:00 am. They then crossed the border on foot and walked through a forested area for about 30 minutes.
Prior to their journey, they had intended to cross independently without smugglers. They had contacted a Croatian NGO, advising them to send their location and personal details once they entered Croatian territory. The NGO stated it would notify the police to take them to a registration camp.
Location where the pushback took place
Upon crossing, the group followed the instructions and sent their location to the NGO. In response, they were told that the police were on their way and to remain at the location. Shortly thereafter, two Croatian police vehicles arrived. Inside were four male officers dressed in black uniforms. The officers instructed the group to place their phones on the ground and walk in a single line. After a 20-minute walk, the officers told the group to return across the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The group refused, explaining they wished to claim asylum in Croatia and showed the messages exchanged with the NGO. The officers shouted, “No talk”, pushed the men to the ground, and broke their phones. They also searched one of the bags, confiscated €2,500, and threw the bag into the water.
The group sat down on the Bosnian side of the border, hoping to avoid further escalation. In an effort to de-escalate, they sent the children toward the police with flowers. One of the officers fired a shot into the air, terrifying the children. When the group tried to protect the children, an officer pushed one of the children to the ground.
One of the men protested, saying they could not treat children that way. As the respondent attempted to intervene, he said that an officer punched his 5-year-old son in the face, causing visible bleeding from the child’s mouth.
The group refused, explaining they wished to claim asylum in Croatia and showed the messages exchanged with the NGO. The officers shouted, “No talk”, pushed the men to the ground, and broke their phones. They also searched one of the bags, confiscated €2,500, and threw the bag into the water.
The group sat down on the Bosnian side of the border, hoping to avoid further escalation. In an effort to de-escalate, they sent the children toward the police with flowers. One of the officers fired a shot into the air, terrifying the children. When the group tried to protect the children, an officer pushed one of the children to the ground.
One of the men protested, saying they could not treat children that way. As the respondent attempted to intervene, he said that an officer punched his 5-year-old son in the face, causing visible bleeding from the child’s mouth.
Injuries to the responent’s 5-year-old son who was beaten by the police
The respondent stated: I know that there is a procedure when we claim asylum in Europe. But instead, these police officers broke our phones and stole our money. So, we don’t actually encounter police, these people are hijackers”. The group realized they would not be treated humanely and was eventually pushed back into Bosnia and Herzegovina at approximately 23:30 on the same day. They later returned to the TRC (Temporary Reception Centre) in Borići.
overview
11 people ,
from Türkiye, Syria, and Nepal,
aged 0-40.