Their phones and money was taken and never returned

Date & Time 2018-10-29

Location Metlika, Slovenia, at a bridge at the Croatian-Slovenian border

Reported by Aid Brigade Sarajevo

Coordinates 45.6349582, 15.3228422

Pushback from Slovenia

Pushback to Bosnia, Croatia

Taken to a police station unknown

Minors involved no

WLTI* involved no

Men involved yes

Age 24 - 29

Group size 4

Countries of origin Syria

Treatment at police station or other place of detention detention

Overall number of policemen and policewomen involved 6

Violence used beating (with batons/hands/other), insulting, theft of personal belongings

Police involved 6 officers in uniform, 2 dogs, 2 cars,

The group of four men started their journey in Velika Kladusa. They crossed the border to Croatia and walked for four days until they reached a bridge at the Slovenian border at night.

After crossing this bridge, the Slovenian officers stopped them and sent them back to the Croatian authorities.

The four of them were put in a Croatian prison, where they had to stay for one night. There, the officers beat them and then searched them twice. Their phones and money was taken and never returned. Throughout, the Croatian officers insulted them, laughed at them and told them to go back to their country. They also accused the four of them of smuggling, without providing any evidence.

The next day at 10 am, a van arrived and brought them back to the Bosnian border near Bihać. From there, they walked back to Bihać camp.