Greek Government Accused of Deporting Turkish Asylum Seekers
Greek said that I don’t know if it’s a deal under the table or if it’s a pattern
that the Greek government is developing to show to the Turkish government that it’s O.K., we will help you.
The Greek government denies that account, by the Hellenic League for Human Rights and the International Federation for Human Rights, which say
that twice in the last few weeks, on May 24 and June 2, Turks fleeing persecution have been shipped back to their country.
By PATRICK KINGSLEYJUNE 8, 2017
ISTANBUL — In the early morning of May 24, a Turkish journalist fleeing a long prison sentence at home crossed the river dividing Greece
and Turkey and claimed asylum in a police station on the other side.
Ms. Papanpantoleon’s group fears that the deportations of Mr. Capan
and other Turks constitute an effort by Greek officials to placate their Turkish counterparts, who were incensed by an earlier refusal to deport eight Turkish airmen who fled to Greece the day after the failed coup.
A few hours later, according to two human rights organizations, the journalist, Murat Capan, was still in police custody —
but back in Turkey, having been forced to return at gunpoint.
According to figures the Greek government issued on Thursday, more than 200 Turks have
allowed to seek asylum in Greece after crossing the Evros since the start of the year.