Greece suspends asylum applications for migrants from North Africa

Over in Europe, Greece has temporarily halted processing asylum applications from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing parliament on July 9, stated that the suspension will last an initial three months, citing a surge of more than 7,300 arrivals on the islands of Crete and Gavdos so far this year, compared to just over 5,000 in all of 2024.

The arrivals, mainly from Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, and Bangladesh, have been transiting through Libya.

Mitsotakis described the move as an "emergency response," and authorized the swift return of those entering the country illegally.

The government is also strengthening cooperation with Libyan authorities and deploying patrol vessels.

Humanitarian groups denounced the policy as illegal and inhumane.

The UN refugee agency also expressed "serious concern," saying the "right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right."