Displaying items by tag: Greece migration crisis

Greece has suspended the right to seek asylum for at least three months amid a sharp rise in migrants arriving via the Libya–Crete route. The controversial policy, described by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris as necessary to avoid a national emergency, has been criticised by human rights advocates for violating EU and international law. Over 7,000 migrants reached Crete between January and June 2025, with overcrowded detention centres now housing refugees in harsh conditions. Many, like Mustafa from war-torn Sudan, are detained without legal recourse or access to proper shelter and care. Critics argue that even in times of crisis, the right to claim asylum must be protected. The government maintains the move is temporary and driven by national security and tourism concerns, while EU officials say they are reviewing the legality of Greece’s actions. As desperation grows among detainees, the situation raises urgent ethical and legal questions about how Europe handles asylum in the face of rising migration, public fear, and political pressure.