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.

On the hunger strike of Kurdish refugees in Lesvos

Via Are You Syrious – One refugee was rushed to the hospital with first symptoms of dehydration on the third day of the hunger strike in Moria, Lesvos. The twelve Syrian hunger strikers are neither eating nor drinking. The Legal Centre Lesbos says they have been in Moria for up to ten months and are protesting the rejection of their applications on admissibility grounds, as the administration claims Turkey is a “safe country”. The centre also notes that eleven of them are Kurdish and could be deported to Turkey, where Kurds are “systematically persecuted and repressed”. One of the hunger strikers is an unaccompanied minor and should be excempt from the procedure, but doesn’t have a way to prove his age. They also criticize their inability to move from Lesvos to the mainland. Continue reading On the hunger strike of Kurdish refugees in Lesvos

Deportations, more deportations and arbitray detention…What’s going on on Lesvos

The NoBorder Kitchen Lesvos published a report on the situation in Lesvos with a focus on deportation to Turkey and ‘voluntary’ returns supported by IOM to countries of origin:

In the last weeks the repression on Lesvos continues. There have been more forced deportations to Turkey and the asylum procedure is still a tangle of bureaucratic nightmares, especially for people from certain nationalities. This situation creates a great hopelessness. Many peoples mental health is getting worse and a lot of people sign for a so called „voluntary return” to their home countries as their only option to get out of this island and not spend months in prison in Turkey. Continue reading Deportations, more deportations and arbitray detention…What’s going on on Lesvos

Border agency Frontex believes ‘EU Turkey deal’ is shaky

Via The Sofia Globe (post from 9th April) – An internal evaluation by Frontex shows that the so-called “E.U. Turkey Deal” might fail. Also, the European border agency fears, terrorists might enter the European Union, increasingly. This is what it says in a Frontex analysis about challenges on migration for 2017. Continue reading Border agency Frontex believes ‘EU Turkey deal’ is shaky

Turkey says could suspend EU migrant deal if no progress on visas

Via Reuters – Turkey could re-evaluate or suspend all agreements under its migration deal with the European Union if the bloc does not give a positive response on visa-free travel for Turks, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.

The Turkish government agreed in early 2016 to help curb a flood of migrants into Europe from its territory, in return for visa-free travel for Turks to Europe. But Brussels first wants Ankara to modify anti-terrorism laws that it says are too broad.

In an interview with broadcaster A Haber, Cavusoglu said the migrant deal and visa liberalization were a package.

Iranian LBT women due to be deported

Via KAOS GL – Turkish Supreme Court has exposed the “extra-judicial decision” by the Governor of Denizli on the deportation of Iranian LBT women. Because of their sexual orientation and religious beliefs, the Supreme Court suspended the deportation of six women from Turkey to Iran in 2014 and gave them permission to reside in Denizli with the decision of the Governor.

After being accused of working as escorts in 2017, the same Governor decided on the deportation of these women. They were placed in the Aydın Repatriation Center, were deportation proceedings have been carried out. The women have individually appealed and filed a lawsuit to cancel the Governor’s decision.

21 returns to Turkey, 205 new arrivals on Greek islands

Via News that Move – As the weather continues to improve, increased numbers of asylum seekers are crossing from Turkey to nearby Greek islands in the north Aegean Sea.

Meanwhile, on the 12th of April, 21 migrants were returned to Turkey under the EU-Turkey deal. They were sent to the coastal city of Dikeli from the Greek island of Lesvos. Four of those returned were from Pakistan, nine from Algeria, four from Bangladesh, two from Ghana, one from Afghanistan and one from Morocco. Continue reading 21 returns to Turkey, 205 new arrivals on Greek islands