Greek police find dozens of naked migrants at border with Turkey

Migrants arrive with a dinghy accompanied by a Frontex vessel at the village of Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey, in a file picture – Associated Press
Migrants arrive with a dinghy accompanied by a Frontex vessel at the village of Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey, in a file picture – Associated Press

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Greek police rescued dozens of migrants who were trying to cross Turkish border to reach Greece illegally, the police said on Saturday.  

The migrants, who numbered 92, were naked and some with injuries, the police added.

Greek Minister of Asylum and Migration, Notis Mitarachi, said in a tweet that Turkey’s treatment of the migrants was a “shame for civilization”.

“Athens expected Ankara to investigate the incident,” he added.

The migrants said they had been forced by Turkish authorities to board three vehicles that took them to the border. The migrants testified that they had been forced to strip naked before boarding the boats.

“Turkey’s provocative behavior exceeded all limits,” Mitarachi noted.  

Turkey regularly accuses Greece of violently pushing back migrants entering the country through land and sea, while Greece accuses Turkey of “pushing forward” migrants to put pressure on the EU.

The migrants are mostly from Afghanistan and Syria, with a few from other countries, such as Pakistan.

Agencies