Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what reports they have received of refoulement and maltreatment contrary to the UN Convention on Refugees, by the Greek authorities against persons trying to claim asylum on the frontier between Greece and Turkey in Thrace; and whether they will make further enquiries and representations to the government of Greece about any such reported treatment.

​We are aware of recent media reports that asylum seekers have transferred back across the land border from Greece to Turkey against their will.

The British Government recognises the importance of all countries observing their obligations under international law to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, and remains committed to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

Our Ambassador visited the border area in November 2018, and had discussions with the Hellenic Police and representatives of the Greek Reception & Identification Service about the processing of arriving migrants.

Where the UK has concerns about the conditions faced by migrants we will continue to raise them as part of our regular engagement at Ministerial and official level.