Turkish coast guard press release to media: On 28 May 2023 at 10.10 a.m., it was reported that there was a group of irregular migrants on an inflatable boat off the coast of İzmir’s Menderes district, and 11 irregular migrants on the inflatable boat that was pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek assets, were rescued by the dispatched TUR CG Boat (KB-4325).
The issue of irregular migration and the practice of pushback by Greece has indeed been subjects of concern and criticism from various sources. Turkey, as well as international rights groups, have raised objections to Greece’s alleged illegal practices, asserting that they violate humanitarian principles and international law.
Pushbacks refer to the practice of forcibly returning migrants, including asylum seekers, across borders without conducting proper individual assessments of their protection needs. Critics argue that these actions put the lives of vulnerable migrants at risk, including women and children, and deprive them of their right to seek asylum and access fair and proper procedures.
International human rights law, including the principle of non-refoulement, prohibits states from returning individuals to a territory where their life or freedom would be at risk, or where they may face torture, inhumane treatment, or persecution. This principle applies regardless of a person’s migration status.
