Europe’s top human rights body has expressed “deep concern” at persistent allegations from Greece. Greek authorities on several occasions, illegally forced back migrants trying to clandestinely enter from neighboring Turkey.
As a result, Dunja Mijatovi, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights; expressed her disappointment in Greece’s response so far, which has been to “simply ignore (the) charges”. Despite the significant evidence that has been raised in recent years.
Human rights organizations have accused Greece of participating in so-called pushbacks. Which include preventing people from entering the country to obtain asylum; as well as the covert return of people who have made it into Greece.
Greece has denied it carries out summary deportations and officials Wednesday didn’t publicly comment on the letter.
During 2015, Greece became the epicenter of Europe’s immigrant crisis, when over a million refugees and migrants arrived. Many on smugglers’ vessels from Turkey, on their way to expand to Western European countries.
In exchange for EU support; Turkey agreed to stop refugees from leaving its shores for the Greek islands under a 2016 deal with the EU. The Council of Europe is not a member of the European Union.
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