President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday denied accusations that Turkish border guards killed and injured asylum seekers trying to find refuge in Turkey, AFP reports.
His comments came a day after Human Rights Watch said Turkish border guards were shooting and beating Syrian refugees trying to reach Turkey, resulting in deaths and serious injuries.
"We did not shut our doors to those who are coming. We did not use our security forces against them," Erdogan said, in apparent reference to the claims.
Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday that Turkish authorities should stop pushing Syrian asylum seekers back at the border, urging Ankara to investigate "all use of excessive force by border guards."
Human Rights Watch said that during March and April this year Turkish border guards used violence against Syrian asylum seekers and smugglers, killing five people, including a child, and seriously injuring 14 others.