Turkish coast guard 27 irregular migrants pushed back by Greek authorities
The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 27 irregular migrants who were forcibly pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities on Friday.
The migrants were rescued off the coast of western Izmir and Balıkesir provinces after Turkish teams received information about their presence on rubber boats.
The migrants, who were from various countries, were taken to a local immigration detention center.
Türkiye has repeatedly condemned Greece's practice of pushing back irregular migrants, calling it a violation of international law and humanitarian values.
Human rights groups have also criticized Greece's practice, saying it puts the lives of vulnerable migrants at risk.
The pushbacks of irregular migrants by Greek authorities in the Aegean Sea are a serious violation of international law. These pushbacks are often carried out without any regard for the safety of the migrants, who have been reported to be left stranded at sea in dangerous conditions. In some cases, migrants have even died as a result of these pushbacks.
The Greek government has denied that it is carrying out pushbacks, but there is mounting evidence to the contrary. In recent months, there have been several reports of pushbacks, including video footage that shows Greek authorities forcing migrants back to Turkish waters.
The European Union has condemned the Greek government's pushbacks, calling them a "serious breach of international law."
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also expressed concern about the pushbacks, saying that they "may amount to refoulement," which is the forced return of a person to a country where they face persecution. (ILKHA)