The Greek Coast Guard confirmed on Friday that they opened fire on a boat of Turkish migrants and killed one man, according to local media. The incident occurred near the island of Symi and has sparked further scrutiny of Greece’s handling of migrant issues.
The migrant boat was reportedly agitating the coast guard by rocking their vessel, prompting the officers to fire “warning shots” before directly targeting the migrants. The victim, a 39-year-old man, was hit by one of these bullets. The Greek Coast Guard’s detailed account of the encounter can be found in their official statement.
This incident is yet another addition to the ongoing criticism that Greece faces over its treatment of migrants. For instance, Aegean Boat Report registered 57 illegal pushbacks in the Aegean Sea in April 2023 alone. According to the rights organization, during that month, 1,711 people were denied their right to seek asylum and their human rights were reportedly violated by Greek authorities. More details are available on their Facebook page.
These actions have raised significant questions about compliance with international refugee protection agreements, which forbid expulsions or returns to situations where individuals’ safety may be jeopardized. Historically, Greece has denied allegations of using violence and forced returns of migrants, as outlined in multiple reports, including one by the BBC in June 2023.
In addition to these incidents at sea, rights groups have highlighted concerns regarding the living conditions for refugees in Greece. Amnesty International recently criticized the unlawful detention conditions in the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC), as they do not meet European standards and international law. The full report by Amnesty International can be accessed here.
For further details on the recent incident involving the Greek Coast Guard, please refer to JURIST.