Turkey rescues 158 asylum seekers in Aegean Sea

By Yusuf Sahbaz

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkey rescued at least 158 asylum seekers who were pushed back by the Greek Coast Guard into Turkish territorial waters in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday, according to a security source.

The Turkish Coast Guard dispatched teams to rescue the asylum seekers in eight life-boats stranded off Seferihisar district of Izmir province, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Six suspects were arrested as they attempted to flee Turkey, said the source.

In a video that captured the rescue, asylum seekers are seen applauding the arrival of the teams.

“They [Greek teams] left us here and ran away. They took us in the Greek waters and brought us till here,” said one asylum seeker.

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

Turkey 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.

*Writing by Sena Guler