Seven Turkish citizens have approached Greek authorities in Alexandroupolis, northern Greece and on the island of Rhodes, in south-east Aegean Sea to request asylum.
In Alexandroupoli, a couple, both university professors, and their two children are seeking protection from alleged persecution in Turkey. They are believed to have entered the country via the northeastern border, possibly crossing Evros River by boat. According to reports, all four have Turkish passports, though only the man’s is valid.
On the island of Rhodes, authorities have yet to determine how three businessmen seeking asylum crossed into the country. Of the three, only one has a valid passport.
Both groups will be called to appear before a prosecutor and are likely to be charged with illegal entry into Greece before formally filing for asylum.
Their applications will come in the wake of a request for protection by a group of military officers in the wake of a failed coup in Turkey last month.
Over 20,000 Turkish citizens have been remanded in custody so far as part of ongoing probes into July 15 coup attempt.
The probes also led to the suspension of nearly 80,000 civil servants while around 5,000 others have been dismissed.
Turkey’s government has said the defeated coup was organized by followers of Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) network.
Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.
sources: kathimerini.gr, wordbulletin.tr
