BRADLEY SECKER
-Photojournalist

Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Gr
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens are rescued from the northern Aegean at 4:30am, after they claim being forcibly returned from the Greek island of Lesvos, and put into Turkish waters by the Greek coastguard.
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens are rescued from the northern Aegean at 4:30am, after they claim being forcibly returned from the Greek island of Lesvos, and put into Turkish waters by the Greek coastguard.
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Migrant pushbacks in the Aegean -

Forced returns of migrants between Greek and Turkish waters continues to increase - July 2021 for POLITICO Europe. 


Over the course of several days embedded with the Turkish Coast Guard, multiple pushbacks were witnessed. Pushbacks means sending migrants and refugees back from Greek waters, or even Greek islands, onto the Turkish side of the invisible border atop the waves, by force. This practice is illegal under EU and international law, and is incredible dangerous for the vulnerable migrants. 


During the early hours of the morning in total darkness, or under the intense summer sun, tens of people were left adrift, without an engine, lifejackets, phones, or water, in flimsy rafts. It is the stuff of nightmares, and for the majority of migrants who said they cannot swim, potentially deadly. 


Whilst migration between mainland Turkey and the nearby Greek islands isn't new, pushback cases have notably increased since early 2020, causing concern from the EU's human rights commissioner, NGOs, human rights organisations, and has been covered by multiple media outlets. 

Northern Aegean Sea. Hellenic (Greek) Coastguard boat LS910 in the early hours of the morning, near the site where two flimsy rafts with a total of 20 Afghan citizens on board, were rescued by the Turkish coastguard. The Greek coastguard claim they were i
Northern Aegean Sea. Hellenic (Greek) Coastguard boat LS910 in the early hours of the morning, near the site where two flimsy rafts with a total of 20 Afghan citizens on board, were rescued by the Turkish coastguard. The Greek coastguard claim they were in Turkish waters, and Turkish authorities claim this boat entered Turkish waters by upto 2 miles, and left the migrants there, known as a 'pushback'.
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The Northen Aegean waters in the late afternoon.
The Northen Aegean waters in the late afternoon.
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 A man from Congo rests after being rescued by the Turkish coastguard, after 17 hours drifting at sea between the Turkish mainland and the Greek island of Samos

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Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
info
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Gr
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Gr
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All on board claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clot
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clothing, and processed by the IOM and Turkish migration authorities, before sleeping. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens are rescued from the northern Aegean at 4:30am, after they claim being forcibly returned from the Greek island of Lesvos, and put into Turkish waters by the Greek coastguard.
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens are rescued from the northern Aegean at 4:30am, after they claim being forcibly returned from the Greek island of Lesvos, and put into Turkish waters by the Greek coastguard.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clot
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clothing, and processed by the IOM and Turkish migration authorities, before sleeping. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Turkish a coastguard shines a light on a nearby Greek coastguard patrol boat, and into the black night of the Aegean waters, in search of two reported rafts of migrants drifting on the border of Turkish and Greek territorial waters.
Turkish a coastguard shines a light on a nearby Greek coastguard patrol boat, and into the black night of the Aegean waters, in search of two reported rafts of migrants drifting on the border of Turkish and Greek territorial waters.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clot
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. In the port of Dikili, western Turkey, they are given food, water, dry clothing, and processed by the IOM and Turkish migration authorities, before sleeping. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Europe, Turkey, Kusadasi. 38 migrants disembark a Turkish coastguard ship which rescued them after 17 hours drifting at sea, between Turkish and Greek waters in the northern Aegean Sea. The boat was forcible pushed back into Turkish waters, and the migran
Europe, Turkey, Kusadasi. 38 migrants disembark a Turkish coastguard ship which rescued them after 17 hours drifting at sea, between Turkish and Greek waters in the northern Aegean Sea. The boat was forcible pushed back into Turkish waters, and the migrants all claim the Greek authorities destroyed their engine and took their fuel supply.
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Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. An engineless rubber boat with 39 persons on board, from multiple sub Saharan African countries, being rescued by the Turkish coastguard after 17 hours at sea. They all claim to have been pushed back by the Greek coastguard, into
Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. An engineless rubber boat with 39 persons on board, from multiple sub Saharan African countries, being rescued by the Turkish coastguard after 17 hours at sea. They all claim to have been pushed back by the Greek coastguard, into Turkish waters, and say their engine and fuel supply were stolen. One man fell off this boat, and was rescued by the Greek coastguard, and taken to the nearby island of Samos.
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Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. Turkish coastguard boats patrol the waters between mainland Turkey, and the Greek island of Samos, after receiving information that there is a boat of migrants without an engine drifting between Turkish and Greek territorial wate

Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. Turkish coastguard boats patrol the waters between mainland Turkey, and the Greek island of Samos, after receiving information that there is a boat of migrants without an engine drifting between Turkish and Greek territorial wate

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A Turkish coastguard working during a rescue operation to save migrants floating on flimsy rubber rafts drifting in the northern Aegean.
A Turkish coastguard working during a rescue operation to save migrants floating on flimsy rubber rafts drifting in the northern Aegean.
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Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
Europe, Turkey, northern Aegean Sea. Turkish coastguard prepare for a rescue operation of migrants drifting in the open water at night, using thermal imaging cameras to help locate them.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens can be seen on a small engineless raft in the northern Aegean Sea at 4:30am, with the Turkish coastguard in the rear of the shot. They all claim to have landed on the nearby Greek island of Lesvos for around 12 ho
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. 9 Afghan citizens can be seen on a small engineless raft in the northern Aegean Sea at 4:30am, with the Turkish coastguard in the rear of the shot. They all claim to have landed on the nearby Greek island of Lesvos for around 12 hours, before being forcibly removed by Greek authorities, and put into this raft, to drift into Turkish waters, known as a 'pushback' which is illegal under international and maritime law
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The waters of the northern Aegean Sea are lit by the lights on a Turkish coastguard boat en route to a rescue operation in the early hours of the morning.
The waters of the northern Aegean Sea are lit by the lights on a Turkish coastguard boat en route to a rescue operation in the early hours of the morning.
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Europe, Turkey, Northern Aegean Sea. 38 migrants and asylum seekers from various sub Saharan African countries on a Turkish Coastguard boat, after being rescued. They were drifting at sea for at least 17 hours, and all claim to have been attacked by Greek
Europe, Turkey, Northern Aegean Sea. 38 migrants and asylum seekers from various sub Saharan African countries on a Turkish Coastguard boat, after being rescued. They were drifting at sea for at least 17 hours, and all claim to have been attacked by Greek authorities, who they say removed their engine and fuel supply, and towed them back by rope, to Turkish terrirorial waters.
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Europe, Turkey, Northern Aegean Sea. 38 migrants and asylum seekers from various sub Saharan African countries on a Turkish Coastguard boat, after being rescued. They were drifting at sea for at least 17 hours, and all claim to have been attacked by Greek
Europe, Turkey, Northern Aegean Sea. 38 migrants and asylum seekers from various sub Saharan African countries on a Turkish Coastguard boat, after being rescued. They were drifting at sea for at least 17 hours, and all claim to have been attacked by Greek authorities, who they say removed their engine and fuel supply, and towed them back by rope, to Turkish terrirorial waters.
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Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. An engineless rubber boat with 39 persons on board, from multiple sub Saharan African countries has been drifting between Turkish and Greek waters for 17 hours. They all claim to have been pushed back by the Greek coastguard, int
Europe, Turkey, Kuşadası. An engineless rubber boat with 39 persons on board, from multiple sub Saharan African countries has been drifting between Turkish and Greek waters for 17 hours. They all claim to have been pushed back by the Greek coastguard, into Turkish waters, and say their engine and fuel supply were stolen. One man fell off this boat, and was rescued by the Greek coastguard, and taken to the nearby island of Samos.
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Turkish coastguard staff make a call to the Greek coastguard, informing them of their obligation to rescue a rubber boat of 39 migrants and asylum seekers in Greek waters. The Greek coastguard replied sometime later saying they were in Turkish waters, aft
Turkish coastguard staff make a call to the Greek coastguard, informing them of their obligation to rescue a rubber boat of 39 migrants and asylum seekers in Greek waters. The Greek coastguard replied sometime later saying they were in Turkish waters, after forcing them back across the invisible boundary.
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The waters of the northern Aegean Sea are lit by the lights on a Turkish coastguard boat en route to a rescue operation in the early hours of the morning.
The waters of the northern Aegean Sea are lit by the lights on a Turkish coastguard boat en route to a rescue operation in the early hours of the morning.
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Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
Europe, Turkey, Dikili. A total of 20 Afghan citizens were rescued by the Turkish coastguard from two life rafts drifting in the northern Aegean Sea, in the black depths of night. All claim to have been forcibly returned to Turkish waters from Greece.
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Sabi, and her one month old son Mahmoud, from Guinea, on a Turkish coastguard boat after being rescued from an inflatable raft which drifted in the Aegean Sea for at least 17 hours.
Sabi, and her one month old son Mahmoud, from Guinea, on a Turkish coastguard boat after being rescued from an inflatable raft which drifted in the Aegean Sea for at least 17 hours.
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