Bodies of 12 migrants found in Turkey near border with Greece

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Bodies of 12 migrants found in Turkey near border with Greece

Feb 3, 2022: According to a report by the AP, the bodies of 12 people, partially clothed, were found, apparently frozen to death inside Turkey near the Greece border.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has posted blurry images on Twitter showing bodies lying on the side of the road near the northwestern border town of Ipsala, some of them wearing only shorts and T-shirts despite the cold.

The minister said the 12 were part of a larger group that had been “pushed back” by Greece.

“Twelve of the 22 migrants pushed back by Greek border units have died,” Soylu wrote in English, adding that their clothes and shoes had been confiscated. At night in late January and early February, temperatures in the area can drop between two and three degrees Celsius (35.6 – 37.4 Fahrenheit).

He accused the Greek border guards of bullying and said the European Union was “weak” and inhumane. Greek Immigration Minister Notis Mitarachi on the other hand called the deaths a “tragedy” but said the version of events in Turkey was “false propaganda”.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) meanwhile said it was “horrified” by the reported deaths.

Safa Msehli, a spokesperson for the IOM said, “Mounting reports of pushbacks against people on the move at some European borders and many parts of the world are extremely concerning and should be investigated and action taken,”

“We reiterate that such practices are prohibited under international law and should not happen under any circumstances,” she said. “The obligation and primacy of saving lives and prioritising the wellbeing and human rights of migrants are vital to the integrity of any border.”

Turkey often accuses neighboring Greece of illegally pushing back migrants and asylum seekers seeking to cross the border into Europe on foot or by boat. Greece denies allegations that its actions violate international law, and says it is doing its part to protect the EU’s southeastern borders.

The European Union has angered Turkey, largely by supporting the Greek position. But on Wednesday, the EU’s home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, expressed concern over the discovery of 12 bodies.

“We have the Greek minister here, I will raise it with him and ask for clarification on this. This needs to be investigated of course.” She said.

The land route from Turkey to Greece is one of the main routes for migrants and migrants to enter the European Union from Africa, the Middle East and beyond, although the number of people trying to travel has decreased in recent years. The UN refugee agency estimates that more than 2,500 people died or went missing at sea last year while trying to reach Europe from North Africa and Turkey.

There are currently about 4 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as about 300,000 Afghans.

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