Edirne Bar Association brings Greece's rights violations to the ECHR

Edirne-Turkiye Bar Association does not leave irregular migrants pushed back from the border line by Greece and subjected to treatment contrary to human dignity.

The Bar Association is trying to defend the rights of irregular migrants in the push-back events that Greece has increased in recent years.

Edirne-Turkiye  Bar Association lawyers assist immigrants in bringing the violations of their rights to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and act as an intermediary for irregular immigrants in their search for law.

Edirne Bar Association Refugee Rights Commission President Anıl Yaşagör told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they defend the rights of irregular migrants against the illegal practices of Greece.

Stating that Edirne is one of the places where irregular migration is experienced intensively, Yaşagör said, “The Bar Association stands against the suffering experienced by irregular migrants and the practices they are exposed to against the law.

We are fighting as usual for the elimination of unlawful acts. Our bar is doing its best to detect violations and to make applications to the ECtHR and get results.

We provide all the necessary legal support to bring the claims of the victims of immigrants or victims' relatives to the ECtHR." said.

Yaşagör stated that there are certain legal processes implemented by countries against foreigners trying to cross their borders and that all countries are obliged to comply with these rules.

"Greece's unlawful policies are unacceptable"

Yaşagör emphasized that the unlawful policy of Greece against irregular migrants is unacceptable.

Underlining that Greece should take legal action against foreigners crossing its border illegally, Yaşagör said: “However, we see and detect that illegal processes are being carried out in the events that happened and reflected to us. There is a policy that has been implemented for the last 2-3 years, called pushback.

Used to be called police if foreigners were spotted after crossing the border with Greece, sometimes soldiers are now recruited at the spot where they are spotted by groups that don't show any affiliation, often with ski masks on their faces, no flags on them.

We know that they were left in the Evros (Meriç) River, which separates the two countries, or they were left on small islets on the river, after being subjected to physical violence.

Yaşagör reminded that 19 irregular migrants who were pushed back from the border line froze to death last week.

Noting that Greece has violated rights in this regard, Yaşagör said, “As far as we were told by those who were in the same group as those who lost their lives, these people were similarly detected after crossing the border.

After their clothes were taken back, they were pushed back to Turkey. While being pushed back, they were either released into the river or had to enter the water while crossing the islet they had been released from and died after suffering hypothermia.”

“There is no decision given by the ECHR yet”

Yaşagör said that despite the rights violations that irregular immigrants are exposed to, applications have been made to the ECtHR for the last 2 years.

Stating that the applications for push-back have started to be taken as a priority, Yaşagör said:

“Although there are applications that take 2 years, there is no decision given by the court yet. We also know that for 6 applications made by the lawyers of the Edirne Bar Association, the court has written a letter to Greece saying, "There are such allegations about you, what do you answer?" Although the priority of these cases has been taken, there is no decision made by the court.

If any of the relatives of the deceased or the survivors reach the Edirne Bar Association and state that they want to apply to the ECtHR, a lawyer may be appointed as a result of the evaluation to be made. Accordingly an application is made to the ECtHR. As the Bar Association, we provide all legal aid in defending the rights of immigrants who are victimized, and we will stand by them in this struggle.”