60 irregular migrants rescued off coast of Türkiye's Izmir

By Huseyin Bagis

IZMIR (AA) - Sixty irregular migrants pushed back into Turkish waters by the Greek coast guard were rescued off Cesme, Dikili and Seferihisar districts in Türkiye's western city of Izmir.

Twenty-eight migrants were rescued from an inflatable rubber in Cesme and 32 others were saved in Dikili and Seferihisar, according to a statement by the Turkish Coast Guard.

The migrants were transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for further proceeding.

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

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