Türkiye rescues over 800 irregular migrants over past week

By Firat Tasdemir and Burak Akay

ANKARA, CANAKKALE, Türkiye (AA) - Türkiye rescued over 800 irregular migrants who were illegally pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greece over the last week, authorities said on Friday.

“A total of 806 irregular migrants were rescued in 26 incidents that took place on Jan. 6-12,” the Turkish Coast Guard Command said in a statement.

In a separate incident on Friday, more than 50 migrants who were pushed back by Greece were rescued in the northwestern Canakkale province, according to security sources.

Teams were dispatched off the coast of Ayvacik district after Coast Guard received information that there were irregular migrants in life rafts and rubber boats.

A total of 51 irregular migrants were rescued in the incident, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

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.

Human rights groups and media outlets have frequently reported on illegal pushbacks and other human rights breaches by Greek authorities.

Ankara 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.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.