Turkish judge seeks political asylum in Greece

According to sources, the Turkish judge was found near Agia Eleni on the island of Chios at 6:00 on Tuesday, in a plastic dinghy with another six refugees from Syria. He immediately declared his identity to the arresting coast guard officers and said he had boarded the boat on the Turkish shore south of Cesme. He also presented personal documents certifying his capacity as a judge and requested political asylum, saying that he was being persecuted for his ideas in Turkey.
The 50-year-old was arrested for illegal entry into Greece and will soon be transferred to Athens so that his asylum request can be considered.
Both police and coast guard authorities on Chios are refusing to make any statement regarding the case and say an official announcement will be issued in the next few hours.