212 irregular migrants held across Turkey

By Anadolu Agency Staff

ANKARA (AA) - At least 212 irregular migrants were held across Turkey over the past day, authorities said Thursday.

In northwestern Kirklareli province, 10 Syrian nationals, including one child, who entered Turkey through illegal means were held by gendarmerie forces near the border with Bulgaria.

The irregular migrants claimed they were beaten in Bulgaria and referred to Turkey.

Meanwhile, Turkish Coast Guard units rescued 67 irregular migrants off Dikili, Cesme and Menderes districts in western Izmir province after they were pushed back into the country’s territorial waters by Greek authorities.

Also, acting on a tipoff, security forces held 36 irregular migrants in a rubber boat off Fethiye district in the Aegean province of Mugla who were trying to cross to Europe. The migrants were also pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek officials.

Separately, 36 more migrants traveling in two rubber boats were taken ashore off the town of Bodrum. While the migrants in one boat were pushed back by Greek forces, the other boat was adrift due to engine failure.

In addition, eight irregular migrants were held in two vehicles in northwestern Kocaeli province. Two suspected human smugglers were also arrested.

Another group of 38 migrants pushed back into Turkey’s territorial waters was rescued by the Coast Guard off Kusadasi in southwestern Aydin province. Also, 25 irregular migrants were rescued off the coast of Didim town. Their boat was towed due to engine failure.

After routine checks, the asylum seekers were sent to provincial migration authorities.

Last week, the European Union expressed concern over migrant pushbacks, saying such incidents damage the bloc's reputation.

"Some of these reports are shocking, and I'm extremely concerned," Ylva Johansson, the EU commissioner for Home Affairs, told reporters, citing a joint investigation by media outlets Der Spiegel, ARD and Liberation.

The investigation unearthed evidence that Greek, Croatian and Romanian authorities have been violently pushing back asylum seekers crossing the bloc's external borders.

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

The country, which already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any other in the world, is taking new security measures on its borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara