EUROPEAN leaders have disgraced themselves by cutting a “reckless and illegal” deal to throw the world’s most vulnerable people onto Turkey’s failing asylum system, huma rights activists said yesterday.

Amnesty International hit out at EU-Turkey refugee agreements which allow mass dumping of “irregular migrants” on Turkish shores after its new report shredded policymakers’ pretences that the mostly Syrian refugees will be treated safely and fairly.

Researchers for the charity found that the Turkish asylum system fails three crucial tests required under international law for the return of asylum-seekers.