Dozens of irregular migrants rescued off western Turkiye

By Ali Balli, Sabri Kesen, Kemal Ozdemir, Ozgun Tiran

KIRKLARELI/MUGLA/ERZINCAN, Turkiye (AA) - Turkish Coast Guard units in western Mugla province rescued dozens of irregular migrants Wednesday as they began drifting after the engine of their rubber boats failed.

Crews stepped into action when the migrants informed authorities of the problem and pulled boats to shore, rescuing 42 people onboard.

Nine other migrants were rescued off Datca district in Mugla after they were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek officials.

Sixty-three migrants -- Afghans, Syrians, Algerians, Pakistanis, Palestinians and Tunisians -- were held by provincial gendarmerie forces upon entering Turkiye through illegal means.

All of the migrants were referred to the provincial migration offices for due process.

Turkiye and human 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.

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

Already hosting 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world, Turkiye is taking new security measures on its borders to humanely prevent a fresh influx of migrants.​​​​​​​

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas