According to the BBC, witnesses have accused the Greek Coast Guard (HCG) of killing at least 40 migrants in the Mediterranean over the past three years. Allegedly, the HCG forced migrants back out to sea and threw nine people into the water after they arrived on Greek islands.

According to the BBC, witnesses have accused the Greek Coast Guard (HCG) of killing at least 40 migrants in the Mediterranean over the past three years. Allegedly, the HCG forced migrants back out to sea and threw nine people overboard to their deaths after they arrived on Greek islands.

BBC News

The Greek coastguard has been accused of killing over 40 migrants, who were forced to turn back or were thrown overboard to their deaths, in the Mediterranean over the past three years.

The BBC investigated 15 deadly incidents involving HCG, resulting in 43 deaths. The primary sources were local media, NGOs, and the Turkish coastguard. Witnesses frequently disappear or are too afraid to speak out, making it difficult to verify such accounts. In four cases, eyewitnesses have confirmed accounts.

The Mirror

A BBC investigation found that at least 43 migrants died due to the coastguard's pushback in 15 incidents between May 2020 and 2023, with nine migrants reportedly being thrown into the water after arriving on Greek islands.

The witnesses are from Syria and various parts of Africa, and they came to Greece to register as asylum seekers before being apprehended and forced back to sea. Lawyers are now attempting to get Greek authorities to open a double murder case.

A Cameroon national, among the three forced back to sea, said he'd come to Greece to register as an asylum seeker before being apprehended and pushed into the water without a life jacket. He survived, but the bodies of the other two migrants were found on the Turkish coastline.

Last year, there was an increase in irregular border crossings in the EU due to a rise in Mediterranean sea arrivals, totaling approximately 263K. Greece alone received 41K arrivals.

When the outlet released footage of 12 people being forced into a coastguard boat before being abandoned at sea in a dinghy, a Greek coastguard officer referred to the HCG behavior as "obviously illegal" and "intentional crime."

The New Arab

The investigation includes footage of 12 people being forced into a Greek coastguard boat before being abandoned at sea in a dinghy and left to die.

The Greek government has faced heavy criticism for allegedly violating international law on forced returns by pushing refugees back toward Turkey. The HCG denies any allegations of illegal activity.

Yahoo! News

The Greek government has denied allegations of negligence and pushback against migrants by its coastguard, stating "what has been reported is in no way proven."

Barrons

Irregular border crossings is a big problem for the EU. Last year alone, there was an increase in irregular border crossings in the EU due to a rise in Mediterranean sea arrivals, totaling approximately 263K. Greece received 41K arrivals.

Newstalkzb.Co.Nz

In 2023, the number of border crossings at the EU border reached 263K, driven by a rise in Mediterranean Sea arrivals. Greece accounted for 41K crossings.

BBC News #

The Mirror #

The New Arab #

Yahoo! News #

Newstalkzb.Co.Nz #

The Greek Coast Guard (HCG) and its government have been under investigation for violating the rights of asylum seekers who take the chance to cross the Mediterranean in search of a new life in the EU. The BBC conducted an investigation into several fatal incidents for the first time, interviewing survivors who witnessed the forced return to Turkey and other dehumanizing border control practices by Greek authorities, seemingly sanctioned by the government. Prosecutors must take these cases to court and hold

Greek coastguard threw migrants overboard to their deaths, witnesses say

Greece denies all wrongdoing. The Greek Coast Guard (HCG) protects the EU's external borders by following national and international law. Greek authorities are doing everything possible to secure the borders while at the same time promoting legal pathways for qualified applicants. The HCG regrets the loss of life in the Mediterranean and will do everything in its power to save as many refugees as possible. However, the true perpetrators in this case are the smuggling networks, which continue to endanger liv

Carl Court / Staff / Getty Images News via Getty Images***PLEASE REPLACE WATERMARKED IMAGE***

Greece

Immigration & refugees

Ship travel

Freedom & human rights

Greece has long been accused of breaking international law and violating the rights of asylum seekers by carrying out illegal pushback operations to force back migrants who cross the Mediterranean in search of a new life in the EU. The BBC investigation included reports from local media, NGOs, the Turkish coastguard, and eyewitnesses. Prosecutors must take the Greek coastguard to court and hold Greece accountable for their dehumanizing actions.

Guardian

Greek coastguard’s treatment of migrants ‘clearly illegal’, says ex-officer

The Greek coastguard protects the EU's external borders by following national and international law. Greek authorities are doing everything possible to secure the borders while at the same time promoting legal pathways for qualified applicants. The Greek coastguard, which saves dozens of human lives each day, regrets the alleged abuses in the Mediterranean. The actual perpetrators of migrant deaths are the smuggling networks, which continue to endanger lives in the sea.

The Associated Press

Greece denies new report of brutality to migrants, including claim dozens were left to die at sea

There's an 18% chance that US refugee admissions will exceed 100K in fiscal year 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

BBC Investigation: Greek Coastguard Threw Migrants to Their Deaths

BBC Investigation: Greek coastguardCoastguard threwThrew migrantsMigrants overboard to theirTheir deaths, witnesses sayDeaths

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

BBC Investigation: Greek Coastguard Threw Migrants to Their Deaths

BBC Investigation: Greek coastguardCoastguard threwThrew migrantsMigrants overboard to theirTheir deaths, witnesses sayDeaths

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters