6 FRONTIER EUROPE Human rights abuses on Greece’s border with Turkey The Greek government is trying to seal its borders not only through increased surveillance and the construction of a fence; but research by Amnesty International shows that those who do arrive are sometimes pushed straight back to Turkey. Those returned to Turkey under such circumstances are denied the chance to apply for asylum in Greece or explain whether they have other needs, in flagrant violation of international law. Amnesty International’s research also shows that the way in which such push-back operations are carried out by the Greek border guard or coastguard is putting lives at risk. Several of those interviewed by Amnesty International claimed they were abandoned in the middle of the sea on unseaworthy vessels or left on the Turkish side of the land border with tied hands. As Turkey only recently passed its first law on international protection and does not provide refugee status to those coming from countries that are not members of the Council of Europe, the support individuals sent back to Turkey receive remains highly limited. Various human rights bodies and non-governmental organizations have also highlighted the difficulties of accessing protection in Turkey and the risk of being sent back to a country where some might face persecution or other serious harm.3 Migrants intercepted at borders and irregular migrants identified in the course of sweep operations within Greece, face lengthy detention – often in appalling conditions – without an assessment of the necessity and proportionality of detention as required by law. Other EU member states appear only too happy for Greece to act as their gatekeeper. But the policies and practices along the Greek border do not just shame Greece: they shame the European Union as a whole. They expose the bitter irony of European countries pressing for peace abroad while denying asylum to, and risking the lives of those who seek refuge in Europe from conflicts in their homelands. METHODOLOGY This report is prepared based on information collected from migrants, refugees, non-governmental organisations, lawyers, relevant government authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece in the course of research visits to Turkey and Greece in March and April 2013. Updated information was also gathered through telephone interviews in May and June 2013. Amnesty international researchers conducted almost 80 individual interviews with refugees and migrants who had recently crossed, or attempted to cross, the border between Greece and Turkey. This report also draws on discussions with groups of detainees and observations at nine facilities in Greece and one facility in Turkey (Edirne Removal Centre), where irregular migrants and asylum seekers were detained. Individual interviewees included women, men and unaccompanied children from Afghanistan (24), Algeria (1), Bangladesh (1), Cameroon (1), Eritrea (3), Iran (2), Iraq (2), Ivory Coast (1), Morocco (1), Nigeria (1), Palestine (4), Somalia (14), Sudan (10) and Syria (14). Amnesty International July 2013 Index: 25/008/2013