As migrants report, they were transferred to Turkey through river crossing by Greek soldiers. They also witness of a violent attitude towards them.
The group rescued by Turkish border units in the northwestern province Edirne witnessed that Greek soldiers had taken their money away. As it was reported by the 31-year-old Pakistani migrant to Anadolu Agency, after his moving to Greece with other 18 people, they moved to the city of Xanthi and were arrested by police on their way to Kavala.
Musaddiq Javed claimed they were transferred to the soldiers by police, the former took away his belongings, including money and mobile phone. According to Javed, he goal of going to Europe was the ability to financially maintain his family back in Pakistan.
“We stayed in Greece for four days and whenever we wanted food they would beat us up. The soldiers took me to a room, blindfolded me and put out their cigarettes on my hand and they would hit my feet”, – Javed said.
He reports that they were thrown into the Marista River and sent back to Turkey, where they obtained proper human treatment and attitude.
Mohammed Nainiya, a Moroccan national, confirmed this view. Claiming that Greek soldiers seized his phone and 700 euros, Nainiya said:
“They brought us to the river on a military vehicle. They put 20 of us on a boat and told us to cross the river while hitting our head with sticks”, – Nainiya said, stating they also took away his clothes.
“We walked for miles after crossing to Turkey and came to a village, where the villagers gave us clothes. The gendarmerie took us to the doctor and told me I had three fractures on my foot that needed surgery”, – Nainiya said.
He said that he had the surgery in Turkey and stayed in the hospital for a week.
During the first 10 months of 2019, 25,404 irregular migrants were reportedly sent to Turkey from Greece.