7 Turkish citizens seek asylum in Greece: local media

By Vasiliki Mitsiniotou

ATHENS (AA) – Seven Turkish citizens have approached Greek authorities to request asylum, according to Greek daily Kathimerini on Thursday.

In Alexandroupoli, northern Greece, a couple, both of whom are university professors, and their two children applied for asylum in order to seek protection from alleged persecution in Turkey, Kathimerini said.

The family is believed to have entered the country via the northeastern border.

According to reports, they all have Turkish passports but only the man’s is valid, Kathimerini added. Greek police has yet to confirm the incident.

Separately, three more people who are said to be businessmen, have reportedly reached the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes, also seeking asylum.

Their way of entry has not been determined or verified by the Greek authorities yet, Kathimerini said, adding only one of the businessmen had a valid passport.

Entering Greece illegally means that all seven asylum seekers will be called to appear before a prosecutor and will likely be charged with illegal entry before they can officially apply for asylum.

Over 20,000 Turkish citizens have been remanded in custody so far as part of ongoing probes into July 15 coup attempt, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

The probes also led to the suspension of nearly 80,000 civil servants while around 5,000 others have been dismissed.

Turkey's government has said the defeated coup was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) network.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.