Greece has been found to have secretly and illegally expelled over 1000 refugees in recent months. Many had been simply left out at sea near the border of Greek territorial waters.

Based on witness testimony, the New York Times reports that at least 1072 refugees, mostly Syrians, had been abandoned at sea by Greek officials on 31 separate occasions since March this year. The refugees were reportedly forced onto damaged lifeboats. Others, meanwhile, were left in their own boats after Greek officials disabled their engines.

According to the NYT, one Syrian mother, Najma Al-Khatib, tried to reach Greece after her husband died of cancer in Turkey. On her third attempt in July, Al-Khatib and her children were detained by Greek police after landing on the island of Rhodes. They, along with with 22 others, including two babies, were abandoned at sea by the Greek police in a life raft without rudders or motors. The Turkish Coast Guard saved them. Al–Khatib made a fourth attempt earlier this month and was stopped once again by Greek officials who removed the boat’s fuel, before pushing it back into Turkish waters.

However, according to the NYT, it is not only refugees attempting to reach Greece who have been expelled. Those who already legally resided and worked in Greece have also been illegally made to leave. One story is that of 30-year-old Syrian X-ray technician, Feras Fattouh. Fattouh was ‘arrested’ by Greek police in July. Despite having documents proving he legally lived in Greece with his wife and son, he was robbed by the Greek police, secretly put on a dinghy with 18 others and sent across a river, into Turkey. His wife and son remained in Greece.

The Greek government has denied the reports despite evidence including video footage. Greek border guards and police have forced back and shot at refugee boats, tortured refugees at black sites, have had them strip naked, and stolen from them, among various other human rights violations.

Umm Muhammed Umar