Greek officials have said that Greece will not become a “gateway” Europe Asylum seekers and called for a unified response to the forecast of an increase in the number of refugees arriving in the country.
Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mizota had a conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the development situation in Afghanistan.Greek Immigration Minister Notis Mitarachi said last week: “We cannot allow millions of people to leave Afghanistan and come to the European Union… and certainly not through Greece.” The country has just completed a project. The 25-mile (40 km) Great Wall along its land border with Turkey And installed an automatic monitoring system with cameras, radar and drones.
So far this year, asylum seekers from Afghanistan accounted for 45% of arrivals from the Greek Islands. number From the UN refugee agency.
In June, Greece declared Turkey a “safe third country” for the people of Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This provides a legal basis for ruling that the asylum application is inadmissible. This decision triggered strong protests from many non-governmental organizations and rights organizations, including the International Rescue Committee and the Greek Refugee Council. They stated in a joint letter, famous Most people from Afghanistan and other countries “recognize a high degree of international protection” and demand that the decision be “immediately revoked”.
Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Greece have been anxiously waiting for news from relatives in their hometowns. Ali* lives in the Lesbos refugee camp, but most of his family, including his parents, are still in Kabul. The 21-year-old recently rejected his asylum application in Greece. Ali said that Afghans on Lesbos now hope their asylum applications can be reconsidered. “We really hope Afghanistan The asylum case that affects us,” he said. “We want to make a positive decision on our asylum, because now, you know, the situation in Afghanistan is very bad and we cannot go back. “
Marion Bouchetel of the Lesbos Legal Center told the Guardian that Greece’s decision to list Turkey as a safe third country for refugees is “an abuse and dangerous misuse of the concept of a safe third country under EU law.”
She said: “Turkey is not a safe third country for immigrants, nor does it offer asylum seekers the potential to be recognized as refugees or protected from refoulement. Afghans already account for nearly the population of the Mavrovouni refugee camp on Lesbos. 75%, and the majority of asylum seekers in the Greek Islands. Most of them are family members and have been rejected in the asylum procedure based on the following assumptions Turkey It is a safe third country for them.
“Given the severity of the situation in Afghanistan, there is no doubt that more Afghans will soon flee and seek safety and asylum through Turkey and Greece via the Eastern Mediterranean route.”
Last week, hundreds of people gathered outside the Greek parliament in Athens to protest Taliban Take over Afghanistan. Najib*, 32, a refugee living in the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos, said: “We are here to raise the voice of Afghans. Millions of people are suffering. .”
“We are here also to raise the voice of Afghan women. The Taliban are equal to terrorists and they do not respect women or women’s rights,” he said.
Najib, who has worked with the US military and international non-governmental organizations in Afghanistan, said that it is important for Europe to accept Afghans to save lives, but it must also resolve the Taliban. “We need to find the source of the problem,” he said.
Parwana Amiri, a 17-year-old living in a tent on the outskirts of Athens, said: “This is the last time they call Afghan refugees economic immigrants. Everyone’s life is in danger. It is very difficult to say. People try to get here, but there is no chance to escape, because the Taliban will not let people leave easily.
“Greece stated that they are not ready yet and they do not want to face the same crisis as in 2015. This means that other EU member states should start relocating and provide opportunities for new immigrants to get here. We have been suffering in refugee camps, but it is better than death. Good mouth.”
The Guardian contacted the Greek Immigration Department to comment on Turkey’s classification of Turkey as a safe country for Afghans, but received no response.
*Name already Changes should be required to protect the identity.
