Türkiye rescues 96 irregular migrants pushed back by Greece

By Sabri Kesen

MUGLA, Türkiye (AA) - Türkiye rescued 96 irregular migrants in separate incidents in an Aegean province, the Coast Guard Command said Wednesday.

Fifty migrants on two lifeboats off Mugla’s Datca district were saved after being pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, the coast guard said in a statement.

Separately, 46 migrants pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces were rescued off the coast of Dalaman district, it said.

The migrants were taken to the provincial migration management directorate.

Türkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.