Tunisia arrests 11 Syrian refugees close to Algerian border

The Tunisian Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of 11 Syrian refugees who crossed the country’s western borders.

In a statement which Anadolu news agency has obtained the ministry said that on Sunday, “the border patrol team of the National Guard in the town of Fériana in Kasserine Governorate (west) arrested 11 people with Syrian nationality after they crossed the Algerian border towards Tunisian territory”.

The statement added that the arrest of these migrants was carried out “close to the Tunisian-Algerian border,” and pointed out that “after consultation with the Public Prosecution, the aforementioned team has been authorised to take legal action against them,” without further indicating exactly what this action is.

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In February eight Syrians crossed the Tunisian-Algerian border and were arrested by the Tunisian gendarmerie.

On 19 November five Syrians who crossed the Algerian borders towards Kasserine Governorate were also arrested. They were referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Tunisia on charges of illegally crossing the border, according to the Tunisian Interior Ministry.