3 yıl önce

Türkiye rescues dozens of asylum seekers pushed back by Greece

Türkiye and human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law.

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A group of asylum seekers in life rafts were rescued off Dikili, Seferihisar, Foca and Cesme districts.

Turkish Coast Guard units have rescued 52 undocumented migrants off the coast of Izmir province after they were pushed back by Greek coastal authorities.

The Coast Guard Command said in a statement late on Tuesday that they learned that there was a group of asylum seekers in life rafts off Dikili, Seferihisar, Foca and Cesme districts and dispatched units to the areas.

Later, the asylum seekers, who were in five life rafts, were brought ashore and all of them were taken to provincial migration offices.

Türkiye and human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Earlier this month, 19 asylum seekers froze to death after they had their clothes taken and were pushed back at the Greek border.

The UN Refugee Agency has called for an urgent investigation after the tragedy at the Greek border.

A transit for migrants

Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Most try to cross into Greece by either crossing the northeastern land border or cramming into smuggling boats headed for the eastern Aegean Sea islands.

Türkiye already hosts four million refugees, more than any other country in the world, and is taking new security measures on its borders to humanely prevent a fresh influx of migrants.