When the EU-Turkey Statement was issued in March 2016, it was roundly denounced by
human rights groups for its complete disregard for the international obligation of states to
protect the rights of refugees1. While the so-called “deal” itself was no more than a
non-binding press release, it set the course for the implementation of increasingly draconian
and violent border policies, which eight years later have become normalised not only in
Greece, but throughout Europe.