Some 250 irregular migrants held in northwest Turkey

EDIRNE, Turkey

A total of 250 irregular migrants were held near Turkey’s Greek border on Wednesday after reportedly beaten by Greek security forces and forced to depart for Turkey, a Pakistani migrant told Anadolu Agency.

The migrant group -- including Pakistani, Iraqi, Moroccan, Palestinian and Afghan nationals -- were held by the local gendarmerie forces in the Ipsala and Enez districts of Edirne, a northwestern Turkish province bordering Greece and Bulgaria, while attempting to illegally cross into Europe, said a source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

They were later referred to provincial migration directorate.

The irregular migrants claimed that Greek authorities forcibly sent them to Turkey.

Pakistani irregular migrants told about their difficulties in the process of repatriation to Turkey.

Arbaz Khan, a Pakistani migrant, told Anadolu Agency that he came to Turkey through illegal ways four months ago.

Khan, together with a group of 20 people, crossed into Greece through Meric (Martisa or Evros) River, which flows from Bulgaria through Greece and Turkey.

Khan underlined that they were beaten, punched and kicked by Greek security forces.

"They took us to a place that looked like a campsite. They did not give us any food and water for two days, and then brought us to a riverside. They beat and forcibly sent us to Turkey," Khan said.

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

Some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey in 2018, according to the Interior Ministry, and over 336,000 have been held so far this year.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz