Greece has been accused of sailing migrants out of its territory and leaving them to fend for themselves in motorless boats in the middle of the sea.
It’s been reported that at least 1,072 people were expelled from the country in this way since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The New York Times has uncovered 31 different incidents using evidence from multiple eye witnesses, the Turkish coast guard, and independent watchdogs.
One woman, a Syrian teacher called Najma al-Khatib, 50, detailed how on July 26, she and 22 others including babies were taken by masked Greek officials from a detention centre on the island of Rhodes while it was dark outside.
She told The Times they were abandoned on a rudderless, motorless life raft before they were later rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard.
‘It was very inhumane’, she said. ‘I left Syria for fear of bombing — but when this happened, I wished I’d died under a bomb.’
The Greek islands have frequently been the place migrants head to first because of their proximity to countries like Syria. But many get stuck waiting to move on to mainland Europe.
The country’s population has become increasingly frustrated over the last five years and now its new right wing Government appear to have taken matters into their own hands.
Border officials have also been accused of intercepting migrant boats at sea and towing them back to Turkey.
Ms al-Khatib tried to return to Greece on Aug 6 but said her boat was stopped off the island of Lesbos by officials, who removed its fuel and took them back to Turkish waters.
The Times has also uncovered two occasions where migrants were dumped on Ciplak, an uninhabited island.
Greece has denied that they’ve done anything illegal. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said: ’Greek authorities do not engage in clandestine activities. Greece has a proven track record when it comes to observing international law, conventions, and protocols. This includes the treatment of refugees and migrants.’
Earlier this year Turkey opened its borders, allowing migrants to cross into Greece, reneging on a commitment to hold them on its territory under a 2016 deal with the European Union. At the time Greece said it had blocked 35,000 migrants from trying to enter its territory in a week.
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