Non Refoulement

Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the Right to Seek Safety 

📍STOP REFOULEMENT

[#LeaveNoOneBehind @lnob2020]

Die griechische Küstenwache wirft Menschen mit gefesselten Händen ins Wasser. Mindestens 43 Menschen sind auf diese oder ähnliche Weise in den letzten Jahren ertrunken. 1/5

https://t.co/rttOrCigDZ

#Griechenland

[Aegean Boat Report @ABoatReport]

Dimitris Baltakos, former head of special operations with the Greek coastguard said,

"It's very clear, isn't it. It's not nuclear physics. I don't know why they did it in broad daylight…It's…obviously illegal. It's an international crime.”

When you think you have seen and heard it all, this documentary comes along

I wonder how the @PrimeministerGR will try to squeeze himself out of this one, “strict but fair migration policies” doesn’t really work anymore after seeing this.

Reactions from @YlvaJohansson @MargSchinas @vonderleyen and @LeijtensFrontex could be very interesting after this.

https://t.co/HOcBs2flIZ

[Sea-Watch International @seawatch_intl]

On the night of 5th April, the Tunisian National Guard capsized a boat of 42 people. 16 drowned. Survivors report on the brutal actions of a state whose border violence is supported by European funds and happens in the EU's interest 👉https://t.co/WiimLj9h8c
@RefugeesinLibya

[Aegean Boat Report @ABoatReport]

Brutal Pushback By Greek Authorities Caught on Video.

In the early hours of April 30, a group of 26 afghans, 22 adults and 14 children, were brutally pushed back by the Greek coast guard only a kilometer from land on Lesvos north east.

They attacked the boat in high speed, beating down towards the engine and people onboard with a stick, until they destroyed the engine, people onboard were screaming in fear.

After the engine was destroyed, the RIB from the Greek coast guard towed the fragile rubber boat with 26 people, 14 of them small children, towards the Turkish sea border, and left them helplessly drifting in the middle of the sea.

That these systematic illegal pushbacks have led to drownings, we are absolutely certain of. Many of the so called “shipwrecks” inside Greek waters, where hundreds of people have drowned, are most definitely not accidents, rather pushbacks gone terribly wrong, and then covered up by Greek authorities.

Last year one of these pushbacks resulted in the death of over 650 people, when the Greek coast guard tried to push back the fishing vessel Adriana off the coast of Pylos, Messenia, Greece. In the aftermath Greek authorities made sure to remove all and any evidence, covering up and point the finger towards those who died. 11 months after the tragic shipwreck, no independent investigation has been launched by the European Commission, we can only wonder why.

These violent and illegal pushbacks, are in direct violation of international law, nevertheless fully supported and financed by The European Commission.

Ironically the same European Commission had the nerve to warned Egypt yesterday, saying “Egypt must respect refugee obligations, and abide by international law on asylum seekers and pushbacks”, as if they are in any position to moralize, when pushbacks are a de facto practice along it’s own violent borders against refugees.

The rapid and dangerous decline in the EU's once-impressive moral compass, needs urgent attention, if possible to save at all.

To support our work please click on the link in comments below 👇

[Aegean Boat Report @ABoatReport]

Illegal Pushbacks Funded By EU Continues In Greece, Unhindered And Unchallenged.

In the morning of Sunday, April 7, a group of 72 people – 52 adults and 20 children – was adrift in a sailboat five kilometres south east of the Greek island of Leros, in the Dodecanese in the southern Aegean Sea.

The 72 people were a mix of Syrian (52), and Palestinian (20) nationals.

None of the passengers were wearing life jackets, and there was no rescue equipment onboard. If, for some reason people ended up in the sea, many would drown, most of them couldn’t even swim.

The sailboat had set out from the Turkish shore the previous night, and people onboard had hoped that the cover of darkness would help them reach Leros undetected. They almost succeeded.

Read the rest of the article, and find out how the Greek authorities, supported by EU, removed 72 men, women and children with brutal force from Greek territory waters, and left them helplessly drifting in life rafts in the Aegean Sea👇

https://t.co/4ulFnueiXm

[Katy Fallon @katymfallon]

Our joint investigation into Pylos shipwreck last year is nominated for the European press prize migration category w/the formidable @lydiaemman, @g_christides & @JulianBusch2 (@guardian) & similarly formidable colleagues @we_are_solomon, @counterinv & ARD https://t.co/a02INxN573

[Aegean Boat Report @ABoatReport]

Yesterday morning a boat reported to have carried 40 people, amongst them 20 children, arrived north west of Drakei, Lesvos north west.

The group contacted us shortly after arriving, they were very upset and scared, after being chased by three boats from the Greek Coast Guard. The group managed to get ashore, and quickly started climbing up the steep hills in the area, to get away from the sea and the people who had chased them.

The group contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance, they provided pictures, videos and location data, that without a doubt placed them on the Greek island of Samos.

From the videos we could clearly see three vessels from the Greek Coast Guard close to shore, one of them was a Lambro Halmatic 60 SAR vessel, most likely the Ν/Γ-513 stationed on Samos, and two smaller boats.

We advised the group to not hide, and to walk towards the village of Drakai and make their presence known to locals. We also tried to explain that the Greek police on Samos would not push them back as they feared, but rather make sure they were transported to the Closed Controlled Access Centre in Zervou, and given the opportunity to apply for international protection.

We also provided them with the necessary information, so that they themselves could reach out to local authorities and organizations, and ask for assistance.

The Group reluctantly started walking towards the village, unfortunately we lost contact with the group before they managed to arrive.

Hopefully the group managed to reach the village, and were found by local authorities and transported to the camp, provided with shelter, food, water and medical attention, and given the opportunity to apply for international protection.

We have so far been unable to officially confirm that the group arrived in the camp yesterday, nor have we been able to officially confirm the number of people in the group.

Kudos to all of those who, on a daily basis, do their utmost to fend for the rights of people at our borders!

To support our work and help us continue saving lives in the Aegean, please donate through @lnob2020 fundraiser by clicking on the link in comments below 👇👍

More pictures from this case available on our Facebook post.

[ECRE @ecre]

🔴3 Dutch NGOs are suing the Dutch govt. over the Turkey- EU migration deal

🔴“As a result of this disastrous deal … thousands of asylum seekers were stuck on the Greek islands in appalling conditions in camps and closed reception centres” @amnestynl
https://t.co/kWQqvNvidQ

[Sally Hayden @sallyhayd]

"With EU parliamentary elections due…& brown & Black arrivals frequent scapegoats for popular anger over floundering economies… In the last 6 mths, the EU has delivered 305 million euros ($331m) to Tunisia & Egypt… to bolster border protections"
https://t.co/lHNCvjGEVN

[Olivier Cyran @OlivierCyran]

"@Frontex se justifie de ne pas avoir lancé l'alerte lors du naufrage de Pylos" et d'avoir ainsi laissé mourir plus de 600 personnes en juin 2023. Son chef Hans Leijtens assume la tactique consistant à retarder les secours et à regarder les boat-people se noyer.

[Non Refoulement @StopRefoulement]

Three people have been arrested in connection with the deaths of five migrants transported to Spain from Morocco in a speedboat in November last year, Spanish police said.
https://t.co/r15s9uGxYW

[Stockholm Center for Freedom @StockholmCF]

22 refugees drown when boat sinks off Turkish coast
https://t.co/Ma94tU1MWB

[InfoMigrants @InfoMigrants]

📷This weekend Doctors without Borders (MSF) carried out intense rescue ops in the Mediterranean, incl. the successful rescue of 45 migrants who fell into the water when their overcrowded fiberglass boat, carrying 75, capsized. All individuals were taken on board the #GeoBarents.

[ECRE @ecre]

No one should have to take a life-threatening journey to seek asylum

No one should endure long and inefficient asylum procedures

No one should be placed in detention after arrival to country of destination

No one should be denied the right to a dignified reception

[ECCHR @ECCHRBerlin]

Together with @RefugeesinLibya, we are here at the @IntlCrimCourt (ICC) to follow up on the crucial investigation into #CrimesAgainstHumanity against migrants & refugees in #Libya. We are committed to achieving justice and accountability, no matter how long it takes. Learn more🧵

[Non Refoulement @StopRefoulement]

26 Children Left Helplessly Drifting In Life Rafts By The Greek Coast Guard https://t.co/E6gHeu0A1d

[Refugee Legal Support (RLS)🧡 @RLSAthens]

@UAI_Initiative 1. Stop pushbacks

A pushback is when people are forcibly prevented from accessing a country. They are highly dangerous and deny people the right to claim asylum.
#pushbacks #stoppushbacks

[SOS Humanity (international) @soshumanity_en]

[1/4] 🔴Breaking: After the rescue of 77 people from distress at sea yesterday, during a rescue endangered by the violent intervention of the so-called #Libyan Coast Guard, Italian authorities have assigned the distant port of #Bari for the disembarkation of survivors.

[Non Refoulement @StopRefoulement]

24 bodies found after shipwreck off Senegal https://t.co/6rEGByX4Oc

[Tineke Strik @Tineke_Strik]

Strong words by the EU Ombudsman, who notes a lack of accountability for human rights violations in the Mediterranean, calling on EU Institutions for an independent inquiry into Pylos.

This echoes previous calls by the EP. We must take action if we take human rights seriously.