In a significant ruling on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights declared that Greece had unlawfully deported a woman back to Turkey and characterized the practice of summary expulsions, known as 'pushbacks,' as systematic. This decision could have far-reaching implications for how Europe manages migrants at its borders, particularly as Greece and other European Union member states are advocating for stricter immigration controls.
The court, based in Strasbourg, France, awarded damages of 20,000 euros ($21,000) to a Turkish woman identified only by her initials A.R.E. The ruling stated that she was improperly expelled in 2019 after crossing the Greek-Turkish border without being given the opportunity to seek asylum.
