The Greek coastguard has been accused causing the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean including nine who were deliberately thrown into the water, according to witness accounts.
Analysis indicates this count includes more than 40 individuals who allegedly perished after being cast out of Greek territorial waters or expelled back to sea following arrival at Greek islands.
However, the Greek coastguard has vigorously denied any allegations of illegal activities.
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The Greek government has previously faced allegations of forced returns, driving refugees back towards Turkey where they set off, which is considered illegal under the international law.
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The Greek government has previously faced allegations of forced returns, driving refugees back towards Turkey (AFP/Getty Images)The BBC analysis looked at 15 incidents from May 2020 to 2023 that collectively resulted in 43 deaths. Primary sources included local media outlets, NGOs and the Turkish coastguard.
The shocking revelations are central to the BBC documentary - Dead Calm: Killing in The Med? - playing on BBC Two or BBC iPlayer today (Monday 17 June) at 9pm.
Nevertheless, vetting such accounts is challenging with witnesses often disappearing, or are too terrified to speak out. Yet, in four specific instances, the BBC managed to corroborate these narratives by talking with eye-witnesses.
In five of the incidents, migrants claimed they were thrown directly into the sea by Greek authorities. (AFP/Getty Images)In five of the incidents, migrants claimed they were thrown directly into the sea by Greek authorities. In four of these instances, they detailed how they had landed on Greek islands but were subsequently chased down.
In other incidents, migrants reported being placed onto inflatable rafts without motors that then deflated or seemed to have been punctured.
One of the most harrowing accounts was provided by a man from Cameroon, who alleges he was pursued by Greek authorities after landing on the island of Samos in September 2021. He had hoped to register on Greek soil as an asylum seeker.
"We had barely docked, and the police came from behind," he shared with us. "There were two policemen dressed in black, and three others in civilian clothes. They were masked, you could only see their eyes."
The horrific investigation has shined new light on the crisis (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)He and two others - another individual from Cameroon and a man from Ivory Coast - were transferred to a Greek coastguard boat, where he said the situation took a horrifying turn.
"They started with the [other] Cameroonian. They threw him in the water. The Ivorian man said: 'Save me, I don't want to die... and then eventually only his hand was above water, and his body was below."
Greek coastguards turned the migrants back, it is claimed (AFP/Getty Images)"Slowly his hand slipped under, and the water engulfed him."
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The man also claims he was assaulted by his captors before being pushed into the water - without a life jacket. Despite managing to swim to shore, the bodies of the other two - Sidy Keita and Didier Martial Kouamou Nana - were found on the Turkish coastline.
The survivor's legal team is now demanding that Greek authorities open a double murder case.
Watch Dead Calm: Killing in The Med? on BBC Two or BBC iPlayer today (Monday 17 June) at 9pm
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