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Greece’s Non-Compliance with International Refugee Law: Systematic Pushbacks and Legal Violations

Greece’s handling of asylum seekers has become a growing human rights concern, with systematic pushbacks and inhumane treatment of refugees raising serious legal and ethical questions. Despite being bound by international and EU laws, Greek authorities continue to forcefully expel asylum seekers without properly assessing their claims.

Reports from UNHCR, Amnesty International, and the Council of Europe reveal a disturbing pattern of illegal expulsions, excessive force, and denial of asylum rights, directly violating the principle of non-refoulement—which protects people from being sent back to places where they could face persecution, torture, or mistreatment.

At the same time, conditions inside Greek refugee camps remain dire. Thousands of people live in overcrowded shelters with little access to food, clean water, medical care, or legal assistance. Instead of finding safety, many asylum seekers are trapped in a cycle of neglect, abuse, and legal uncertainty.

Despite EU funding and international pressure, Greek authorities have failed to improve these conditions, leaving refugees to survive in unsanitary, unsafe, and degrading environments.

Meanwhile, Frontex, the EU’s border agency, has come under fire for its role in enabling these illegal pushbacks, raising questions about the EU’s own accountability. If these violations continue unchecked, they won’t just harm refugees—they will set a dangerous precedent for asylum policies across Europe.

The EU must act now to hold Greece accountable, enforce its own human rights commitments, and ensure that asylum seekers receive the protection they are legally entitled to.

To read the full content of the policy report please click here.

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