Monitoring Desk
ISTANBUL: The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 194 irregular migrants who were illegally driven back into Turkish territorial waters by Greece authorities, officials said Tuesday.
Turkish Shore Guard Command says that after detecting 73 foreign nationals on boats off the coast of the Ayvalik district in Balikesir province, coast guard teams were sent to the area. Separately, after obtaining information that there were groups of unauthorized migrants in boats off the coast of Bodrum and Datca districts in Mugla province, coast guard teams saved 22 migrants.
Turned away by Greece
In the meantime, 99 other migrants who had been turned away by Greece were saved off the coasts of the Izmir province’s Menderes, Cesme, and Urla districts. All of the migrants were transferred to the regional migration offices after being saved.
For undocumented immigrants seeking to enter Europe illegally and begin new lives, particularly those escaping war and persecution, Turkey has been a crucial transit point. Media outlets and human rights organizations have repeatedly exposed illegal retaliation and other violations of human rights by Greek authorities.
The illegal practice of Greece’s pushing back on unauthorized immigrants has also been repeatedly condemned by Turkey and international human rights organizations, who claim that it violates humanitarian principles and international law by putting the lives of vulnerable migrants, such as women and children, in danger.
