A Syrian family deported from Greece to Turkey has accused the EU's border management agency of a breach of human rights. NGOs have repeatedly accused Frontex of violating international law when dealing with migrants.A European Union court in Luxembourg is expected to rule on Wednesday in a damages case filed against the bloc's border management agency Frontex by a Syrian family that said it was deported without regard to international law on people seeking protection.

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Under international law, so-called pushbacks — sending people who have applied for protection at a national border back to another country without due consideration of their individual circumstances — is illegal.

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What does the family allege?

The Syrian family of six, which now lives in Iraq, said it was deported from EU member Greece to Turkey in 2016 on a flight operated by Frontex without any prior examination of its asylum application.

According to the family's lawyer, Lisa-Marie Komp, the family was told that the flight would take them to the Greek capital, Athens, rather than Turkey.

In addition, members of the family were kept apart during the flight and forbidden to ask questions, Komp said, adding that the children were also not treated in accordance with international law.

The family is claiming compensation for material and non-material damages resulting from the return operation.

Many Syrians have fled their home country amid a civil war that broke out in 2011, with their exodus a main trigger of what is often called the refugee crisis of 2015, during which many hundreds of thousands of people sought shelter in Europe.

Turkey and the EU struck a deal in 2016, renewed in 2019, under which Turkey agreed to take back people trying to enter Greece irregularly in return for €6 billion (around $7 billion) in humanitarian aid. The agreement, however, did not negate countries' obligations to first examine asylum applications.

Controversial agency

Frontex has faced frequent accusations by nongovernmental organizations that it has violated migrants' rights in its efforts to protect the EU's external borders.

Last year, Fabrice Leggeri stepped down from his position as Frontex director in view of serious accusations of mistreatment of migrants trying to reach Europe made against him and his staff.

tj/sms (dpa, AFP)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2023 01:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).