17 Turkish nationals ask for asylum in Greece, say their lives in danger

A total of 17 Turkish nationals who illegally entered Greece through Rhodes Island have asked for asylum saying their lives were in danger in Turkey, Gerçek Gündem news website reported on Wednesday.

Three women, four children and 10 men, including five academics, were reported to Greek police by a person who saw them in Glyfada region of the island on Tuesday early morning.

Asylum seekers were transferred to Rhodes Police Station after requesting for protection.

A total of 3,206 Turkish nationals have applied for asylum in Germany in the first six months of 2017, data from the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) have showed.

According to the report by BAMF, there has been an increase in the number of Turkish nationals who applied for asylum in Germany in the first six months of 2017 since a botched coup attempt last July.

The BAMF report said that 209 diplomats and 205 state officials have applied for asylum in Germany since the coup attempt last summer.

A total of 5,742 asylum applications were made in Germany by Turkish citizens in 2016, of which 4,400 were made by people of Kurdish origin.

The number of Turkish national asylum seekers in Europe have showed a steady increase following the controversial coup attempt in July 2016 in Turkey. Immediately after the putsch the government along with Turkey’s autocratic President Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the faith based Gülen movement, arresting more than 50,000 and dismissing more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants since July 15 even though Fethullah Gülen, who inspired the movement, strongly denied having any role in the failed coup.

Erdoğan is criticized for using the coup attempt as an excuse to oppress dissident voices. (turkishminute.com)

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