İHD: Two Syrian refugees pushed into border river between Turkey, Greece still missing

Refugees heading to Greece on the Evros river in early 2020. (Photo: AA)

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The Human Rights Association (İHD) has held a press conference with the families of Syrian refugees who went missing after they were thrown into the Meriç (Maritsa or Evros) River in late August.

"On August 23, refugees, including women and children, were brought in groups near the Meriç River, and at night, they were put on boats and brought to Greece," said the İHD Edirne Branch.

"The refugees, with all of their belongings, documents and clothes seized by mobs on the Greece border, were put in a small detention room. In the morning, they were put on rubber boats and pushed into Turkey.

"Refugees, who said they didn't generally encounter a negative attitude in Turkey side, were brought together by the border security forces at noon on August 24. Women and children in their custody were released.

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"The men and other children, who were subjected to hate speech and insults, were put in vehicles and brought to the river bank and were thrown into the river in groups of five, upon an order by the officer in command.

"About 45 people with ill ones, children and those who don't know how to swim among them tried to reach the opposite bank in the river with a depth of two meters and a high flow rate. Those who survived reached the shores of Greece at different locations.

"Refugees who were caught on the border of Greece were again subjected to the same unlawful practices, then they were put on boats again and pushed back to Turkey.

"Refugees who reached Turkey went to İstanbul by walking for hours or by the vehicles they could find without being caught by the border security.

"Because they were brought to the border with groups of three-five people, how many people lost their lives in the incident could not be determined."

Two people are still missing

From what refugees told the İHD İstanbul Branch about the incident, it was understood that Mohammed Al Ali (37) and Mohammed İsmail (29) from Aleppo, Syria, were are still missing.

Relatives of them applied to the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, demanding the perpetrators be found and punished. The investigation continues.

Finding the missing people is as important as punishing those who are responsible, the İHD said and added that no progress has been made in this regard. (AS/VK)