Pushbacks at the Greek-Turkish border: A.R.E v Greece
- Isabel Vodrazka de Miranda
- Nov 13, 2025
- 4 min read
In 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne defined the modern borders of Turkey, reshaping the region after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. This marked the Greek-Turkish border, which includes the Evros River, passing through Thrace, and is now known as one of Europe’s most dangerous migration pathway, where around 400 people try to cross daily in 2023 according to Welle. Both Turkey and Greece have constructed fences in recent years, highlighting internal safety and border security, as well as heightening political tension. The ongoing dispute, shaded by maritime border control of islands and rights in the Aegean sea, is seeing a growing tension caused by migrants as a pressure point.
Since the late 2000’s, Greece has actively approached the migrant surges with an aggressive approach to securitising their land and maritime borders. The initial fence, built in 2008 was used as a response to the growing concern that Greece was being used as a transit for migrants seeking to enter the EU. The fence has since continued to develop, now reaching 37 kilometres. The physical border reflects Greek commitment to halting irregular crossings. Furthermore, part of its securitised approach extends beyond just the border, including as well the use of electronic surveillance and thousands of border guards. However, the physical and political fortification has led to human rights controversies over practices of pushbacks, defined as the forceful return of migrants and asylum seekers without due process, a practice which is illegal under humanitarian international law.
One landmark legal case exemplifies the tensions: A.R.E. (initials of the defendant which are kept secret for safety) v. Greece. In January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Greece engaged in a “systematic practice” of pushbacks to Turkey without the proper legal and asylum procedures. The defendant, a Turkish resident fleeing political persecution after being imprisoned for over 7 years for participation in the FETÖ/PDY terroristic movement. She crossed into Greece seeking asylum but was immediately detained, stripped of personal belongings, and forcibly sent back to Turkey by Greek authorities.
The Court found Greece violated several fundamental rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, Article 3, the right to liberty and security, Article 5, and the right to an effective remedy. Article 13. This decision not only condemned the specific pushback in A.R.E.'s case but acknowledged a systematic and widespread policy impacting thousands of migrants along the EU’s external borders.
The ruling challenges the Greek government’s narrative of lawful border control and exposes the sensitive balance between national security and international human rights obligations. It also highlights how migration has become a geopolitical dispute between Greece and Turkey, mixed with their long-standing disputes over regional influence.
Ultimately, the border symbolises more than just a physical barrier; it represents a complex relation between states, sovereignty claims, security concerns, and the urgent human rights issues faced by vulnerable migrants caught in power struggles.
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Very interesting and unknown to me. Thank you for the article, Isabel!