Via Middle Eastern Eye – The Turkish army has arrested a group of soldiers who were filmed beating and verbally abusing a group of young Syrian refugees who attempted to illegally cross the border, it said late on Sunday. In a statement posted on its website, the army said that “the personnel in question were taken into custody and all administrative and judicial procedures have been immediately started against them”. Continue reading Turkey arrests troops who beat Syrian refugees on video
Category Archives: News Digest
HarekAct offers a topical and chronological collection of news on the EU-Turkish border regime under this section. We link to external newspapers and websites and do not hold the copyright.
Views and opinions expressed in the articles published on HarekAct are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of all editorial board members.
FREE THE MORIA35
Via Legal Center Lesvos – On Tuesday 18th July 2017, 35 refugees in Moria camp, Lesvos, were arrested. For the second day in a row, protesters sat outside the European Asylum Support Office inside the camp, holding banners denouncing dehumanising conditions, and calling for freedom of movement for those kept on the island for over 6 months. Following this peaceful exercise of the right to protest, there were clashes between a handful of protesters and Greek riot police. Police forces then carried out raids of Isoboxes, and made 35 arrests. Continue reading FREE THE MORIA35
Deportation, self-harm and police violence: how the EU is condemning refugees to death
No Border Kitchen Lesvos on the recent escalation of violence in Lesvos:
The assaults – bravely captured on camera by refugee activists inside Moria – clearly depict the way the EU is abusing these vulnerable individuals. Following protests against the lack of action on the cases of refugees from certain countries, riot police forced the demonstrators inside the camp and closed the gates.
Greek coastguards pushed boat carrying 26 people back to Turkey
The Watch The Med Alarmphone reports about a pushback from Greek waters to Turkey, which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, 21th July:
“On Friday the 21st of July 2017, at 5.03am, the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a contact person to a group of 26 travellers, amongst them 2 children and a pregnant woman.. Continue reading Greek coastguards pushed boat carrying 26 people back to Turkey
Greek Coast Guard Rescues 170 Migrants in the Aegean
Via Greekreporter – The Hellenic Coast Guard announced on Friday the rescue of more than 170 migrants in search-and-rescue operations in the Aegean in the past 24 hours. The operations took place off Samos and Lesvos islands, adding to the number of 11,000 of asylum seekers who landed on the Greek islands coming from Turkey this year. Continue reading Greek Coast Guard Rescues 170 Migrants in the Aegean
7 refugees dead as boat capsizes off Turkish coast
Via Anadolu Ajansi* – Seven refugees, two women and five children, lost their lives when their boat sank off Çeşme, Izmir on Thursday evening, the Turkish Coast Guard confirmed this morning. Nine people were rescued and taken to Cesme State Hospital for treatment.
The Coast Guard in still engaged in a rescue operation to search for one missing person.
Read the whole article here
*Turkish state-run news agency
Documentary: Ben de Buradayim – I’m Also Here
Ben de Buradayim – I’m Also Here is a documentary aiming to tell the story of Amina, a Senegalese refugee living in Istanbul since five years and the solidarity between local and refugee women living in Turkey. The project needs support for filiming in Senegal. Read more here
Europe’s forgotten crisis
Via BBC News Turkey – “The Greek islands feel abandoned by the mainland – and Greece feels abandoned by the EU”. Arrivals of migrants to Greece are growing again – but with doors elsewhere in Europe shut, most are now trapped in Greece or deported back to Turkey.
Amir Hampay Freed After 24 Days of Hunger Strike
Via Mosaik Support Center – After 24 days on hunger strike and three months in prison, Amir Hampay has been released from detention by court order and reunited with his brother, Arash. #KhozinHussein and #BahroozArash remain imprisoned, and in deteriorating condition. Arash Hampay and Solidarity Activists Lesvos will continue their hunger strike in solidarity with their call for justice, freedom and dignity. Continue reading Amir Hampay Freed After 24 Days of Hunger Strike
Facing own dangers, Turkey’s LGBT community defends Syrian counterparts
Middle East Eye on Istanbuls Syrian LGBT community:
“Every Sunday, Syrian LGBT refugees from all corners of the city meet up for weekly “Tea and Talk” meetings. Several issues are discussed, including the difficulties involved with obtaining residency permits and applying for asylum, as well as more mundane matters such as entry prices into Istanbul’s various gay clubs. […] Continue reading Facing own dangers, Turkey’s LGBT community defends Syrian counterparts