Türkiye shares images of 2 children killed in illegal Greek pushback of migrants

By Sefa Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Wednesday released images of two dead children, part of a group of six irregular migrants who perished after being pushed back by Greek forces on Tuesday night.

“We’re terribly sad to share (these) scenes,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter, alongside photos of the children, who were among two babies and three children who died due to the pushback.

“Another massacre by Greece (of) migrants and innocent children (who) sought to cross from Lebanon to Italy. 2 brothers, Asim only 9 months (old) and Abdulvahab, only 4 years old,” he wrote.

He added that Europe and Greece are responsible for “these massacres,” referring to numerous reports accusing the EU border agency Frontex of aiding in Greece’s illegal pushbacks.

The Turkish Coast Guard late Tuesday found the lifeless bodies of six irregular migrants while rescuing 73 migrants on four life rafts off the Turkish coast of Marmaris.

The rescued migrants told coast guard officials that they were pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces.

Turkish Coastal Guard units were immediately dispatched to the scene with a helicopter, a coast guard aircraft, and a coast guard boat.

Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing asylum seekers back into Turkish waters and denying them entry to Greece, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children. The EU border agency Frontex has been credibly accused of involvement in the illegal practice.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers wanting to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar