The UN human rights chief voiced alarm Thursday over an EU-Turkey deal to slow migrant arrivals to Europe, saying it had legal flaws and contradictions that could have global repercussions. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement there was "a contradiction at the heart of the agreement," and voiced deep concern at the "arbitrary detention of refugees and migrants." The European Union and Ankara struck a deal nearly a week ago aiming to cut off the sea crossing from Turkey to the Greek islands, which bore the brunt of a refugee wave last year.
Under the agreement, which took effect Sunday, all migrants landing on the Greek islands face being sent back to Turkey, although the deal calls for each case to be examined individually. "The declared aim to return all refugees and migrants contrasts with the assurances about individual assessments," Zeid said. "If the safeguards are to be considered real, then the individual assessments must allow for the possibility that the persons in question will not in fact be returned," he said, adding "otherwise it could still qualify as a collective expulsion." Zeid also questioned the assertion in the agreement that Turkey was considered "a safe third country", meaning that refugees who had passed through the country should be sent back there instead of being permitted to seek asylum in Greece.
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