Turkish judge seeks asylum in Greece

ATHENS (AA) - A Turkish judge requested political asylum in Greece on Tuesday after fleeing to the Greek Chios Island, according to Greek coast guard.

The coast guard said a middle-aged Turkish judge arrived on the shores of the island aboard a boat carrying six Syrians at dawn.

He was brought to the Chios Prosecutor's Office on charges of illegal entry into the country. The judge then declared his will to seek asylum in Greece, alleging he had been persecuted in Turkey.

According to Greek media, the judge will be transferred to Athens to proceed with the asylum request.

The judge is the latest Turkish citizen in Greece to officially ask for asylum since the July 15 defeated coup, which Turkey's government said was organized by followers of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) network, led by Fettulah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the U.S.

Last week, seven other Turkish citizens, four in Greek city of Alexandroupolis and three in Rhodes Island, sought asylum in Greece. Their asylum procedures remain underway.

Also, asylum interviews for eight Turkish coup plotters, who flew a military helicopter to flee to the Greek town of Alexandroupolis on July 16 following the coup bid, continue in the Greek capital.