Refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea. AFP
Refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea. AFP
Refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea. AFP
Refugees arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea. AFP


Turkey, Greece and the EU are all failing refugees


  • English
  • Arabic

July 25, 2021

Few seas have seen as much drama as the Aegean.

Start with Greek myth. Three millennia ago, Paris sailed home to Troy across the Aegean after taking Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships into these waters, starting the Trojan War. Odysseus faced a decade of peril in the Aegean – cannibals and witch goddesses, lotus-eaters, cyclops and irrepressible winds – before making his way home.

Since the mid-19th century, Turkey and Greece have engaged in multiple wars and border disputes, alongside endless debate, over the islands and waters sandwiched by the Dardanelles in the north and Crete to the south. A century ago, hundreds of thousands of people crossed these waters, headed in opposite directions, as part of a massive population exchange between the two neighbours and rivals.

From mid-2015 to mid-2016 as many as a million migrants, mostly Syrians, crowded onto inflatable dinghies to reach Greece, sending shockwaves across the continent and reshaping European politics. A refugee agreement between Turkey and the EU slowed that wave to a trickle, yet today the Aegean is witnessing something unprecedented, as thousands of asylum-seekers are forced to cross again and again, fighting a Sisyphean battle to reach the sanctuary of Europe.

In recent months, a growing number of migrants who have reached Greece’s Aegean islands have found themselves, hours later, adrift in Turkish waters, as detailed by several news outlets. A group of Afghan refugees told The New York Times they were resting in a forest on Lesbos when Greek police officers detained them and took their documents, money and phones before putting them in rudderless rafts the Greek Coast Guard towed out to sea.

One Yemeni who lost his father in his country’s civil war says that he has been pushed back seven times, and is preparing to make his eighth attempt. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has presented evidence of these illegal pushbacks to the Greek government, requesting an investigation, but Athens has denied any wrongdoing.

Interesting then, that the Turkish Coast Guard crew that rescued the Afghan asylum seekers said Greek authorities had sent an email, alerting them of migrants drifting in the area. It’s also interesting that the Turkish government invited journalists onto a coast guard vessel to report on Greece’s troubling maritime activities, as Ankara may soon be forced into an uncomfortable decision of its own on migrants.

Last week, the Turkish news app Muhabir Agency published a video showing hundreds of people scurrying along the edge of an open field. “Afghan refugees entering our country through every part of Van [province],” said the accompanying tweet.

Turkey’s interior minister rejected the footage’s authenticity, but the local governor’s office confirmed that it had been shot near Mount Erek outside Van and that police had detained nearly 1,500 migrants hiding out in abandoned buildings later that day. The video went viral and Lutfu Turkkan, a parliamentarian for the nationalist IYI Party, which has seen its support rise in recent months, wondered aloud on Twitter: “Is Turkey a roadside motel?”

Perhaps a fair question, as the country hosts more refugees than any other, at least four million of them, including 3.6 million Syrians. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long sought the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and aims to be seen as the champion of persecuted Muslims, so his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has mostly had an open door policy for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and beyond.

Yet, as the stay of Syrians in particular has lengthened and most foreigners have come to be seen as taking precious jobs during an extended economic crisis, Turkish citizens and politicians have become increasingly willing to show their resentment. Putting the usual western dichotomy (think of former US president Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban”) on its head, in Turkey it is often not the far-right populists who denounce and demonise immigrants, but the more liberal-minded opposition alliance, led by IYI and the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has always had a nationalist streak.

In 2019, after winning consecutive elections for Istanbul mayor on a campaign based on social unity and “radical love", the CHP’s Ekrem Imamoglu – widely seen as Mr Erdogan’s main rival – said some Syrians in Turkey might have to be “re-educated” and that he had to “protect our people’s interests”. This time around, Mr Turkkan hinted that Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters were hiding among the new arrivals. Nationalist Turks took up the cause across social media, making clear that #UlkemdeSuriyeliAfganİstemiyorum ("I don’t want Syrians, Afghans in my country") and urging their government to “stop the silent invasion”.

CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu soon chimed in, vowing that following a victory in the next election, scheduled for June 2023, a CHP-led government would send the refugees back home. “Syrians are our relatives,” he said. “However, I believe they will be much happier if they live in the land they were born.”

In response, Mr Erdogan promised continued support for those who have found sanctuary in Turkey. “They have taken refuge with us,” he said last week. “They beg for safety. We cannot tell them to go back to where they were.”

Humane sentiments no doubt, but in late 2019, after the AKP lost control of several major cities, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reported that Turkey had done precisely that – forcing dozens, if not hundreds, of Syrian refugees to agree to be returned to their homeland.

Now, as many as 1,000 Afghans are entering Turkey every day, and people smugglers in Van are doing 10 times more business than usual, according to The Daily Telegraph. The pressure is growing on Turkey as well as Greece and Europe. Already this year, nearly 300,000 Afghans have been displaced by the escalating conflict, and a Taliban takeover following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan could spur a mass exodus.

Afghans have been queuing in the thousands to acquire passports and neighbouring Pakistan has shut its borders to migrants, so the burden may again fall on Turkey and the Aegean passage. But this time around, the new arrivals may not be greeted so warmly.

In late spring 2016, I spent more than a month on the Aegean island of Chios, from which one can see Turkey, some eight kilometres away. Reporting on the migrant wave, I met one sympathetic Chian after another whose father or grandmother had come over from Turkey in the population exchange nearly a century prior. They were on the side of those seeking a new life and many were even willing to lend a hand.

A year-and-a-half ago, Mr Erdogan threw the refugee deal with the EU into doubt when he announced that Turkey would open its European border. This not only sparked clashes at the Greek border as Greek authorities sought to keep the migrants out, but also turned a great deal of Greek, and European, compassion into anger and frustration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has since described Greece, with its pushbacks, as “Europe’s shield”. Denmark has decided Damascus is safe enough to allow for return and this year revoked the asylum status of nearly 200 Syrians. A few days ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who famously welcomed a million migrants, praised Turkey’s “outstanding job” on refugees. She was probably thinking of the recent actions of her government, which sparked outrage a few weeks ago when it deported a 23-year-old Afghan, who was about to marry a German, for paid traffic fines.

It all makes one wonder just how many migrants must be forced to live the 21st-century version of Homer’s Odyssey before leaders find the courage to treat them with a little human decency.

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

GCC-UK%20Growth
%3Cp%3EAn%20FTA%20with%20the%20GCC%20would%20be%20very%20significant%20for%20the%20UK.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20My%20Department%20has%20forecast%20that%20it%20could%20generate%20an%20additional%20%C2%A31.6%20billion%20a%20year%20for%20our%20economy.%3Cbr%3EWith%20consumer%20demand%20across%20the%20GCC%20predicted%20to%20increase%20to%20%C2%A3800%20billion%20by%202035%20this%20deal%20could%20act%20as%20a%20launchpad%20from%20which%20our%20firms%20can%20boost%20their%20market%20share.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Challenge Cup result:

1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWest%20Asia%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Bahrain%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Premiership%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Dragons%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%201%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20Division%202%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%20III%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Sharks%20II%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDubai%20Sevens%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChampions%3A%20Dubai%20Tigers%0D%3Cbr%3ERunners%20up%3A%20Dubai%20Hurricanes%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Brief scores:

England: 290 & 346

Sri Lanka: 336 & 243

RESULTS

1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.

3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m

Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

About RuPay

A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank

RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards

It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.

In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments

The name blends two words rupee and payment

Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Paris%20Agreement
%3Cp%3EArticle%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E1.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20periodically%20take%20stock%20of%20the%20implementation%20of%20this%20Agreement%20to%20assess%20the%20collective%20progress%20towards%20achieving%20the%20purpose%20of%20this%20Agreement%20and%20its%20long-term%20goals%20(referred%20to%20as%20the%20%22global%20stocktake%22)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20undertake%20its%20first%20global%20stocktake%20in%202023%20and%20every%20five%20years%20thereafter%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

Bantamweight

Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)

(Split decision)

Featherweight

Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)

(Round 1 submission, armbar)

Catchweight 80kg

Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)

(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)

Lightweight

Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)

(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)

Lightweight

Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)

(Unanimous points)

Bantamweight

Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)

(Round 1 TKO)

Featherweight

Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)

(Round 1 rear naked choke)

Flyweight

Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)

(Unanimous decision)

Lightweight

Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)

(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)

Catchweight 73kg

Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)

(Round 3 submission, kneebar)

Bantamweight world title

Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)

(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)

Flyweight world title

Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)

(Round 1 RSC)

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Duminy's Test career in numbers

Tests 46; Runs 2,103; Best 166; Average 32.85; 100s 6; 50s 8; Wickets 42; Best 4-47

MATCH INFO

Confederations Cup Group B

Germany v Chile

Kick-off: Thursday, 10pm (UAE)

Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan

Watch live: Abu Dhabi Sports HD

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Notable Yas events in 2017/18

October 13-14 KartZone (complimentary trials)

December 14-16 The Gulf 12 Hours Endurance race

March 5 Yas Marina Circuit Karting Enduro event

March 8-9 UAE Rotax Max Challenge

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: July 25, 2021, 2:00 PM`