ABTTF President: ‘‘Unlawful pushbacks are a clear example of the distorted practice of democracy and direct violation of human rights in our country. The investigation into the freezing of all assets against GHM Spokesperson Panayote Dimitras is also evidently a kind of retaliation by the Greek authorities for his work on pushbacks and a continuation of the smear campaign against him.”
The illegal methods in which Greece has pushed back asylum seekers who attempted in entering the country was discussed within the framework of a session of the European Parliament (EP) Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on 5 June 2023.
In the session followed by the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) Brussels Office, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas indicated that according to the news report dated 19.05.2023 published in the New York Times, there were a total of 12 asylum seekers including women and children among them which were found locked in a truck without any badge or logo on the island of Lesbos. Schinas noted that the European Commission is working closely with the Greek authorities on this issue. Underlining that similar incidents should not happen again, Schinas highlighted that the European Commission is responsible for protecting and ensuring the principles of the right to asylum and non-refoulement, and that it will always follow up on any issues and mistakes in this regard within the EU Member States.
During the session, the request to confiscate all of the personal assets of Panayote Dimitras, Spokesperson of the Athens-based Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) along with those of the assets of the non-governmental organisation he is chairing was also on the agenda. Speaking at the session, MEP Sophia in’t Veld (Netherlands, Renew Europe) indicated that GHM has been harassed by the Greek authorities, which has been closely following and reporting similar incidents, including human rights violations in Greece, discrimination and violence against migrants and refugees recently. Furthermore, she noted that he was subject to harassment and intimidation and that there are attempts in curtailing or preventing his activities in some way.
“The EU continues to closely monitor the way our country pushes back asylum seekers and irregular migrants in an illegal manner. Despite all the warnings of the United Nations, the EU and the Council of Europe, our country has not stopped these pushback practices. Unlawful pushbacks are a clear example of the distorted practice of democracy and direct violation of human rights in our country. The LIBE Committee, which visited Athens in March 2023, pointed out in its post-visit statement that there are serious threats to the rule of law and fundamental rights in our country. On the other hand, as Member of the European Parliament Sophia in’t Veld indicated, the investigation opened against GHM Spokesperson Panayote Dimitras, one of the important human rights defenders in our country, constitutes a kind of retaliation by the Greek authorities and defaming Dimitras for his work on pushbacks. It is obvious that it is a continuation of such a campaign. This and similar vengeful prosecutions against Dimitras, who have been reporting human rights violations and discrimination in our country to the international public for years, should be stopped immediately’’, said Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF).
