In brief
Investigations have surfaced regarding Greek police allegedly utilizing migrants as mercenaries to conduct pushbacks against other migrants attempting to cross into Greece from Turkey. Eyewitness accounts and internal documents highlight brutal practices including physical assaults, theft, and sexual violence towards these migrants. While the Greek government denies knowledge of these actions, the implications present serious concerns regarding human rights abuses at the border.
A recent investigation by the BBC has unveiled shocking claims revealing that Greek police are allegedly recruiting migrants to forcibly push back other migrants at the border with Turkey. Internal police documents reveal that senior officers oversaw the recruitment of so-called mercenaries.
Witness accounts indicate a grave breach of human rights, with numerous reports of migrants being stripped, beaten, and subjected to sexual assaults. Evidence suggests that this practice has been ongoing since at least 2020.
The Greek Prime Minister has publicly stated that he was totally unaware of these allegations, while official responses from authorities concerning the issue remain unaddressed.
Pushbacks, or forced returns of asylum seekers without due process, are considered illegal under international law. Prior allegations of masked men carrying out pushbacks have been noted since 2022 by international news organizations.
BBBC's investigation began last autumn when distressing video footage surfaced, purportedly showing mistreated migrants, shared by a disgruntled smuggler. Various sources, including former mercenaries and police informants, corroborate the existing claims of violence.
Eyewitness testimonies include a border guard reporting cases of rape and extreme physical violence, mirroring threats made towards vulnerable migrants. Reports indicate that Greeks have employed mercenaries primarily from countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, incentivizing them through stolen goods and documentation providing passage through Greece.
Furthermore, a police source highlighted that as many as hundreds are pushed back weekly, a practice known among local law enforcement.
The border itself, along the 200km Evros River, is heavily militarized, rendering migrant crossings perilous. Reports indicate a disturbing prevalence of violence in this region, with systemic abuses recorded.
Greece has witnessed over a million migrant arrivals since 2015, primarily through perilous sea routes or land crossings.
Prominent human rights organizations have called for urgent investigations into these revelations, stating the seriousness of these violations and the need for accountability in law enforcement practices.
The investigation continues as sources come forward to share their experiences, shedding light on a deeply troubling chapter in the ongoing migrant crisis.
