By Dimitris Kolias,
Let us start with specifying the meaning of “pushbacks”. Pushbacks per the ECCHR are measures taken by a state aiming at forcing refugees and migrants out of its territory. These measures often obstruct refugees from seeking asylum and are considered to be in violation of the 1951 Geneva Convention (specifically, article 32.33 principle of non-Enforcement). This principle clearly states that returning people to a country or territory where their life or freedom is in danger is forbidden.
Of course, the aforementioned illegality and inhuman nature of pushbacks have not stopped the Greek state from systemically, for almost a decade now, towing vessels full of people back into Turkish waters, where many, if not most, will drown before being rescued. Just this year, the Hellenic Coast Guard has stopped 32 boats, carrying a total of 1108 people, from reaching the coast, how many of them survived the experience is, as of yet, unknown.
Now that we have established pushbacks as an illegal and unethical practice, what is being done to stop and prevent them?
In Greece itself? Not much, the country is slipping further and further into an alt-right dystopia after all. Do not forget that this is the same country where a trial described as a “farse”, regarding refugee aid workers is taking place. In this court case, 24 aid workers are being accused of membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and espionage (!). This case has been described as one of the largest cases of criminalization of solidarity ever and its outcome is at the moment unclear.
On the other hand, the European and the International court are trying to do their part. This past July the European court ruled on a case ongoing since 2014. It was decided that the pushback of a group of Syrians and Afghans, in total 28, eleven of whom died including women, children, and infants was not done in a way that ensured their safety. It also ruled that the subsequent investigation done by the Greek authorities was subpar at best. All the while another thirty-two pushback cases are pending in the same court.
Greek authorities for the longest time have argued that pushbacks do not happen in their territory, this court ruling has proven otherwise. I believe it is high time we stopped politicking with human misery. The fact remains that during your reading of this article, there is a significant chance that somewhere in the Aegean Sea a Hellenic Coast Guard ship is towing a raft full of people, whose only crime is to try and escape war, extreme poverty and death, leaving them to drown with a little to no chance of survival. This alone should be a source of shame, for Greece, Europe, and for humanity in general.
References
- Pushback. ecchr.eu. Available here
- Greece: ECtHR Condemns Greece in Prominent Ruling, New Evidence of Pushbacks, Renewed EU Critique – Same Old Denials, Government Ignores European Courts and Continue Crack-Down on Solidarity. ecre.org. Available here
- European Court Slams Greece Over Deadly Migrant Pushback. hrw.org. Available here
