Turkish coast guard saves 92 migrants pushed back by Greece

AROUND 92 migrants pushed back by Greece in the Aegean were rescued by the Turkish coast guard Thursday in a new sign that Athens will continue its illegal practices.

Coast guard teams rescued the asylum-seekers in rubber boats at three locations off the coast of Dikili and Çeşme districts in İzmir province, it said.

All of the asylum-seekers were transferred to provincial migration offices.

Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum-seekers, stating it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Turkey’s five Aegean provinces – Çanakkale, Balıkesir, İzmir, Muğla and Aydın – are prime spots for refugees to leave Turkey for the European Union, with Greek islands within sight of the Turkish coast.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as many boats carrying refugees sank or capsized. The Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued thousands of others.

Turkey and Greece are key transit points for migrants looking to cross into Europe, fleeing war and persecution to start new lives. Turkey has accused Greece of large-scale pushbacks, summary deportations and denying migrants access to asylum procedures, which is a violation of international law. Ankara also accuses the EU of turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of human rights.

Pushbacks are considered contrary to international refugee protection agreements, which dictate that people should not be expelled or returned to a country where their life and safety might be in danger due to their race, religion, nationality or membership in a social or political group.