Türkiye detains three rescue workers from Greece

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Three members of the rescue team from Greece, who came to Defne, Hatay for the rescue works following the February 6 earthquakes, were detained in Hatay.

Alexis, Takis, and Michail were taken into custody today, in the Armutlu neighborhood in Defne, Hatay.

The three were taken to the section for foreigners in the Hatay Police Headquarters and are to be taken to the Adana Immigration Authority.

The Progressive Lawyers Union (ÇHD) issued a statement today (February 17) about the detentions.

ÇHD says in the statement that the police are stating that the three citizens of Greece are not in custody, but that only administrative actions are being taken for them. "Nevertheless, the three are not being released and on top of that we learned their cell phones have been seized and the police are trying to examine them," the union said.

"Totally arbitrary"

ÇHD said that this is de facto detention and that these three people are being kept in custody in a totally arbitrary manner.

"Keeping Alexis, Takis, and Michail, who all entered the country according to the visa and passport procedures under custody in the section for foreigners in the police headquarters is again totally arbitrary," ÇHD said.

ÇHD also announced that there was a decision to take the three citizens of Greece to the Adana Immigration Authority and also that they have informed the Consulate General of Greece about the situation." (TY/PE)