Friday

22nd Sep 2023

Afghan asylum family beaten in Greece, set adrift at sea

  • Location data coordinates 39°22'54.7"N 26°14'07.8"E show the family at the exact point where they were put into a containment unit (Photo: Google Maps)

Three families from Afghanistan appear to have been abducted from a Greek asylum camp, robbed, beaten, and then illegally deported back to Turkey.

Among them was 28-year old Abudlrauf A., his heavily-pregnant wife, and two small children. Although his full last name was given, EUobserver has decided not to publish it.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"We went to ask for asylum and were brutally beaten. I am asking for justice. Give us justice," he told EUobserver on Tuesday (23 February), speaking through an interpreter.

The case marks a potential first for Greece.

Reports of pushbacks, where people seeking international protection are illegally forced across the border, are common.

But according to Abudlrauf's lawyer, Panayote Dimitras, the Afghan case is a novelty.

"It is the first time on the islands that they deport people illegally who had already been placed in a state structure," he said.

Abudlrauf's 25-year old wife is eight-months pregnant. Their first born is five-years old, while their second is almost two.

The families had documented their arrival and deportation using videos, photos, and location data sent via WhatsApp to Aegean Boat Report, an NGO.

Unredacted copies were then shared with EUobserver, depicting a timeline of events corroborating a story of abuse and fear by possibly four masked men against the families.

Along with two other families totalling 13 people, they landed on the northern part of the Greek island of Lesbos on 17 February at around 19:00.

Some six hours later, they found themselves forced onto a life raft and set adrift without any safety jackets. They were rescued around 4 am by the Turkish Coast Guard and taken to Behram, a port city.

"We left (the Turkish port) because we didn't have money to pay for a hotel and food," he said, accusing masked men in Greece of stealing his €150 in cash he had brought with him.

Abudlrauf and his family eventually made it to Konya, a city in Turkey, where they are staying with a relative.

"We lost everything," he added.

The events surrounding the testimony is startling.

Once on the Greek island, Aegean Boat Report says they had guided the families to the nearby Megala Therma quarantine camp - run by the Greek ministry of migration.

Location data shows the families had landed near the Megala Therma quarantine camp (Photo: Aegean Boat Report)

They were then approached by a camp guard who told them they needed a Covid-19 test.

The NGO, citing sources at the camp, says such a request at night is highly unusual.

They also note the women and children in the group had been allowed to use the camp's toilets.

But they were then moved west of the camp and locked inside a white container unit known as an isobox.

Aside from the flashlights on their phones, the families are in total darkness. A small child in the video can be seen suckling from a baby bottle, another is cuddled up asleep in grey blankets.

"Then four men came, their faces were covered, and they started to hit us," said Abudlrauf. The men took everything. But someone in the group managed to hide a phone, said Abudlrauf.

Abudlrauf said they were forced to look at the ground and to remain quiet. They were then led to a van and driven to a port, possibly Petra.

"We wanted to ask for asylum but they didn't even allow us to open our mouths. We couldn't talk, we couldn't say anything," he said.

Upon arrival they were forced onto a speedboat, which then took them to an orange life raft out at sea, says Aegean Boat Report.

All were placed inside and set adrift. Video footage from inside the raft shows the same faces as those in the container unit.

It also shows a Lalizas ISO life raft, the same used to help train the Hellenic Coast Guard.

People from Afghanistan have a good chance of getting asylum or a refugee status in Greece.

Recognition-rates last year in Greece were around 61 percent for the nationals, higher than the EU average of 55 percent.

But Turkey is also deporting them back to Afghanistan without due process, a point made by Abudlrauf's lawyer Panayote Dimitras.

Dimitras says he will be requesting that they be allowed to return to Greece to file their asylum claims, noting the families had left because of the Taliban.

He also said that Greek law offers victims of illegal deportations based on racism a temporary residency permit.

"In a functioning democracy with the rule of law, it doesn't matter where they come from. They are human beings that landed on an island," he said.

EUobserved

Moria is EU's shame

The European Commission will attempt to spin its way out of bearing any responsibility for the disaster that is Moria. Piecemeal efforts to help those in Moria will not resolve a policy Brussels created.

Analysis

Between the lines, Europe's new Moria unfolds

A new five-day screening of migrants at Europe's external borders is meant to expedite people into either 'asylum' or 'return' tracks. The time-limit is wishful thinking and one that could leave people stranded in make-shift camps or even ghettos.

Reality bites EU's 'No More Morias' pledge

The EU's hotspot of Moria, a sprawling ghetto-like camp for migrants and refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, burned down last September. EU leaders declared such scenes would never be replicated. But its replacement faces similar problems.

Opinion

Biden's withdrawal and Afghan migration to EU

Afghans in 2020 constituted the second-largest group of asylum seekers arriving in Europe - outlining the necessity to accelerate the reform of the EU migration regime to avoid another crisis.

Germany and Netherlands halt returns of Afghans

Last week, six EU countries, including Germany, and the Netherlands, said forced returns must continue despite violence in Afghanistan. Now they have changed their mind. Belgian Greens are also criticising the decision.

Latest News

  1. Europe's energy strategy: A tale of competing priorities
  2. Why Greek state workers are protesting new labour law
  3. Gloves off, as Polish ruling party fights for power
  4. Here's the headline of every op-ed imploring something to stop
  5. Report: Tax richest 0.5%, raise €213bn for EU coffers
  6. EU aid for Africa risks violating spending rules, Oxfam says
  7. Activists push €40bn fossil subsidies into Dutch-election spotlight
  8. Europe must Trump-proof its Ukraine arms supplies

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us