As devastating wildfires continue to ravage Greece, an alarming rise in anti-migrant sentiment has fueled controversy and speculation. Unfounded claims that asylum-seekers are responsible for some of the fires have ignited a frenzy of hostility online.
The situation escalated when locals in the Evros region, bordering Turkey, accused a group of 13 Pakistani and Syrian men of attempting to start a fire near the city of Alexandroupoli. One local resident even posted a live video on Facebook, proudly displaying the migrants confined in a trailer and claiming to have caught them trying to burn us. Disturbingly, another user commented on the video, saying, Don’t show them… burn them.
The man who shared the video was subsequently arrested, along with two alleged accomplices, as authorities vowed not to tolerate vigilantism. The three detainees have been charged with inciting racist violence, while the migrants face charges of illegal entry and attempted arson. However, a government source has revealed that the evidence against them seems to be nothing more than the makings of a campfire.
Media misinformation has also played a significant role in the unfolding crisis. For instance, an Evros news portal erroneously reported that 20 migrants had been arrested outside Alexandroupoli after exchanging gunfire with the police. Authorities later confirmed that this information was false. Similarly, a national TV station issued a correction after falsely claiming that two migrants had been caught lighting a fire in the neighboring Rodopi region.
The wildfires have engulfed Northern Greece, with a vast area stretching over 15 kilometers and burning more than 60,000 hectares of agricultural land and forest. This region, located just a few kilometers from the Turkish border, is a frequent route for migrants aided by smugglers. In 2020, tens of thousands of migrants clashed with Greek security forces as they attempted to breach this remote northeastern area. In response, work is underway to extend a 37.5-kilometer steel barrier to prevent further unauthorized crossings.
Since the outbreak of the first fires near Alexandroupoli last Saturday, social media has been inundated with pictures and videos claiming to show makeshift arson devices made by migrants crossing the Turkish border.
Deep-seated anti-migrant sentiment is prevalent in Greek border areas, where locals accuse asylum seekers of theft and blame reckless driving by smugglers for serious traffic risks. Many residents firmly believe that the fires were caused by migrants. Christos Paschalakis, a resident of Evros, stated, I am absolutely convinced that the fires were caused by migrants. They burn us, they steal from us, they kill us in road accidents. Vangelis Rallis, a retired logger from Dadia, echoed this sentiment, claiming that migrants burned the area last year and returned to finish the job this year, speculating that they may have even been paid to do so.
The issue has also ignited political controversy, with Kyriakos Velopoulos, the leader of nationalist party Greek Solution, joining the attacks on migrants and praising the resident who illegally detained them. One of Velopoulos’ MPs, Paris Papadakis, called on locals to take action, claiming that migrants were obstructing firefighting plane pilots. In the last national elections, Velopoulos’ party and two other far-right groups achieved their highest ratings in Northern Greece, with Greek Solution securing nearly nine percent of the vote in the Evros region.
Tragically, the wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 20 people, with 19 believed to be migrants. A group of 18, including two children, was found near a village close to the Turkish border, while another migrant was discovered dead in the area of Lefkimmi. Valandis Gialamas, the head of Evros’ border guards, anticipates that more bodies will be found, as crossings from Turkey have increased in recent days.
Amnesty International has called on Greece to urgently evacuate all those stranded in the Evros region due to the fires and ensure that refugees and migrants who have entered the country irregularly can seek asylum without being forcibly returned at the border.
The situation is tragic, with lives lost and communities divided by speculation and anti-migrant sentiments. It is crucial for accurate and responsible reporting to prevail to avoid further misinformation and hostility.
