Sir, – A letter writer is of the view that “rotten and corrupt” regimes are the “cause of migrant deaths”, and “not European policies” (Letters, July 26th).
However, European policies can result in gross human-rights violations for those seeking asylum. Only this month did the European Court of Human Rights unanimously find that the Greek government violated the right of life of 16 people from Afghanistan, Syria and Palestine, following the sinking of a fishing boat in the Aegean Sea, resulting in the death of 11 people, and having interacted with a Greek coastguard vessel. And in a further shocking finding, the court found that Greek soldiers subsequently publicly strip-searching the survivors, violated the right not to be subjected to degrading treatment. Unfortunately, European policies can also be rotten. – Yours, etc,
RONAN Ó FATHAIGH,
Amsterdam,
The Netherlands.