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                       Greece Deports Migrants to Turkey

   by Dorian Jones

   Greece has deported more than 200 migrants and refugees to Turkey as a
   part of a controversial Turkey-EU deal to address Europe's migration
   crisis.

   Early Monday, three boats carrying migrants from several countries
   docked at the Turkish Aegean port of Dikili.  The deportees were
   processed without incident at tents set up for that purpose.

   The deal between Ankara and the European Union calls for illegal
   migrants and failed asylum seekers in Greece to be deported to Turkey.
   It has been criticized by human rights groups and Turkish opposition
   parties.

   Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has acknowledged the sensitivity
   of the deal.

   The prime minister says the government will show compassion as Turkey
   has received the first migrants turned back from Greece.  He said the
   government will now send some Syrian refugees from camps in Turkey to
   Europe.

   Watch: Refugees arrive in Turkey from Lesbos, Greece

   ''Under the deal, for every Syrian deportation from Greece, the EU will
   receive a Syrian from a Turkish refugee camp.  With Turkey hosting
   nearly three million refugees, opposition parties have criticized
   Ankara for agreeing to accept deported refugees.

   Saturday in Dikili, locals protested, chanting, "We do not want any
   more refugees."  Seeking to allay criticism, Interior Minister Efkan
   Ala said many of those deported would be sent home.

   Ala said Syrians returned from Greece would be given the chance to
   register in Turkey, but that Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis would be
   sent back to their country of origin.  Most of those deported Monday
   reportedly were Pakistanis.

   A senior Turkish official said last month Turkey had signed a
   re-admission agreement with 14 countries, including what was described
   as major source countries for migrants.

   International human right groups have said the EU-Turkey deal
   contravenes international law.

   Last month, Amnesty International accused Turkish security forces of
   forcibly deporting as many as 100 Syrian refugees a day back to their
   country, a charge Ankara strongly denied.

   But observers say the European Union may be hoping the images of the
   first deportations will discourage future migrants and refugees seeking
   to make the perilous crossing from Turkey to Greece.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/greece-deports-migrants-to-turkey/3268477.html