Asylum seekers protest for Athens to open its border

EDIRNE, Turkey

Asylum seekers at the Turkish and Greek borders on Monday staged a protest to push Athens to allow safe passage into European territory.

While their waiting continues in Turkey’s northwestern Edirne province, asylum seekers carried signs saying "We are human" and "We need help" near Greece’s Kastanies border gate.

In the two weeks since asylum seekers were able to reach the border, nearly 2,500 have been wounded by Greek border guards using disproportionate force and violence.

Last month, Turkey opened its borders for asylum seekers seeking a way to Europe, accusing the EU of failing to keep promises under a 2016 migrant deal.

Ankara also warned that due to incessant attacks on civilians in Idlib, Syria, a million refugees are moving toward Turkey’s borders.

With 3.7 million Syrian migrants in Turkey already, more than any other country in the world, Ankara says it cannot absorb another refugee wave.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas