German NGO Pro Asyl released a study on the human rights violations of refugees in the Aegean and the Greek-Turkish land borders. The NGO’s study reveals shocking reports about the conduct of authorities, which in certain cases could be classified as torture.
Pro Asyl’s study took place over a year and was based on interviews with 90 refugees in Germany, Greece and Turkey. The study itself was focused on the treatment and experiences of refugees pushed back into Turkey. The majority of interviewees are from Syria (49), with the rest from Afghanistan (32), Somalia (5) and Eritrea (4).
The report claims that many ships and groups of refugees who managed to cross borders into Greece were pushed back into Turkey, often without having the opportunity to apply for asylum or have their individual cases examined. 76 of the 90 interviewed refugees claimed that they had been pushed back once, with the remaining 14 claiming to have been pushed back multiple times.
Most refugees reported ill treatment, which in certain cases could be considered torture. Refuges often reported money, mobile phones and other valuables were confiscated, that they were held without being allowed to contact anyone and that authorities only asked about their nationality. In one case, a ship full of refugees was pushed back into Turkey after having issued a distress call.
A Syrian interviewee reported that a friend of his was being brutally assaulted with a bat, while another stepped on his head; the victim pleaded with the officers in Arabic, only to be told to stop talking. Most reports indicate that there was refugees were being pushed back indiscriminately, regardless of age, sex or health.
Pro Asyl’s full report is available here.
