Burak Akay, Ali Balli and Haydar Toprakci
18 January 2024•Update: 18 January 2024
CANAKKALE / MUGLA / IZMIR, Türkiye
Türkiye rescued 87 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea after Greek authorities illegally pushed them back into Turkish territorial waters, authorities said Thursday.
Coast guard units rescued 38 irregular migrants from two inflatable boats off Ayvacik in the Canakkale province, the Turkish Coast Guard said in a statement.
Coast guard teams also rescued 20 irregular migrants in inflatable boats off the coast of Bodrum in the Mugla province, and units saved 29 more irregular migrants off the coast of Cesme in the Izmir province.
They were taken to provincial migration management directorates.
Türkiye and global 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 Merve Berker
