presidentjacob zuma. a diplomatic row has broken out between the greek government and the eu over the country s treatment of migrants trying to reach europe from turkey. human rights groups claim that thousands of people seeking asylum in europe have been blocked by greek boats and pushed back to turkey. but athens has rejected claims by a senior eu official that the country is breaching european fundamental rights. fergal keane s report from the island of lesbos contains some strong language. 0n europe s southern frontier, the guardians of the law are accused of breaking it. please! help us! pushing asylum seekers across an international border, time and again. in some cases, shots fired in the air, and into the water. all to intimidate.
before being eventually picked up by the turkish coastguard. greece already hosts thousands of refugees who are applying for asylum in the eu, but campaigners say it s breaking international law by forcing others back. all of these are international obligations. they have to be kept by greece. but also, it s eu law that is not. ..that is violated. because the right to asylum, to seek asylum, is also in the eu charter of fundamental rights. since these scenes six years ago, sentiment has hardened against migrants in europe. and the eu is accused of turning a blind eye to abuses because greece is keeping migrants out. some boats from the eu s own border agency are even accused of helping with push backs. but now a top eu official has told the bbc push backs defy its core
a diplomatic row has broken out between the greek government and the eu over the country s treatment of migrants trying to reach europe from turkey. human rights groups claim that thousands of people seeking asylum in europe have been blocked by greek boats and pushed back to turkey. but athens has rejected claims by a senior eu official that the country is breaching european fundamental rights saying the claims are unfounded. fergal keane s report from the island of lesbos contains some strong language. 0n europe s southern frontier, the guardians of the law are accused of breaking it. please! pushing asylum seekers across an international border, time and again. in some cases, shots fired in the air, and into the water. all to intimidate. we ve been investigating the stories of some of those who allege they ve been victims of pushbacks.
sentiment has hardened against migrants in europe. and the eu is accused of turning a blind eye to abuses because greece is keeping migrants out. some boats from the eu s own border agency are even accused of helping with push backs. but now a top eu official has told the bbc push backs defy its core values and must stop. i think these are violations of our fundamental european values. and when we are protecting our borders, we are protecting our values. and that is why we cannot see violations of fundamental rights go on without having a proper response to that. but this evening, athens hit back. allegations are clearly unfounded, they rely on footage or testimony provided from the country of departure. numerous cases have been investigated, including
i ll be speaking to the welsh seaweed farmer who thinks eating who thinks we should all be eating more of it. intercepted at sea and forcibly abandoned in nearby waters the shocking end of a perilous journey for thousands of migrants trying to reach europe. a bbc investigation has spoken to some who experienced what they said were illegal deportations from greek territory in so called pushback operations. a top eu official described the moves as violations of fundamental european values. greece denies the allegations. the bbc s fergal keane reports now from the island of lesbos. 0n europe s southern frontier, the guardians of the law are accused of breaking it. wailing please!