Türkiye holds over 260 irregular migrants

MUGLA/CANAKKALE/IZMIR/AYDIN, Türkiye

Turkish forces held a total of 261 irregular migrants across Türkiye, security sources said Monday.

Turkish security forces nabbed 20 Palestinian irregular migrants in Bodrum district of Mugla province.

Turkish teams also arrested 77 migrants from Palestine and Afghanistan found in a rubber boat off the coast of Ayvacik district in the northwestern province of Canakkale.

Meanwhile, a total of 113 irregular migrants pushed back into Turkish waters by the Greek Coast Guard were rescued off Cesme district in Türkiye's western city of Izmir, while 26 others were held by security forces in the same district, according to a statement released on the website of the Coast Guard Command.

Also, 25 irregular migrants pushed back into Turkish waters by the Greek Coast Guard were rescued off Kusadasi district in Türkiye's western Aydin province, the Coast Guard Command said in a statement.

​​​​​​All of the migrants were taken to provincial migration offices.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for irregular migrants wanting to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Türkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back irregular migrants, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.