Tension flared at the reception center at Lesvos as refugees who entered Greece after March 20 demanded to leave the island. The protestors are asylum-seekers who are under restriction at the island’s facility due to the application of the agreement between the European Union and Turkey. The rebellion on Monday was caused by tension as a result of delays in the asylum application process.
Squabbles led to an occupation of the area in front of the asylum application service where protestors burnt trash cans. Workers of NGOs and the riot police squad entered the area, dispersing the crowd using stun grenades.
Late on Sunday, dozens of Iraqi and Syrian protestors — many of whom have families with young children — gathered at the central square of Mytilene shouting that they are refugees, not criminals. They called to be allowed to travel to Piraeus and from there to central or northern European countries.
Visitors
German MEP Ska Keller visited the shelters of Morias and Karatepe on Lesvos on Monday. She also met with representatives of NGOs working with refugees.
Also on Lesvos, UN Special Rapporteur on the Migrants’ Human Rights Francois Crepeau toured the migrants and refugees reception centers on Sunday and was briefed on the asylum granting procedure.
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