A Greek court has begun the trial of 24 migrant aid workers on charges of people smuggling and money laundering. The defendants, volunteers with the non-profit search and rescue organization International Emergency Response Center (IERC), worked on the island of Lesbos between 2016 and 2018. They are accused of collaborating with smuggling networks that facilitate irregular migration and of money laundering—charges that carry potentially lengthy prison sentences.
Among the accused aid workers are Sara Mardini, a Syrian woman who, together with her sister, rescued migrants on board a small boat in 2015—a story later adapted into a film in 2021—and German volunteer Sean Binder. The defendants spent more than 100 days in detention after their arrest in 2018 before being released pending trial.
Human rights organizations have strongly criticized the trial, saying that Greece is effectively prosecuting charitable work. Defense lawyer Zakaria Kissis stated: “The outcome of the trial will determine whether humanitarian aid will receive judicial protection from absurd accusations or be left to a cycle of arbitrary narratives by the judicial authorities.”
In 2019, Greece implemented a strict immigration policy, following the formation of the right-wing government. Thereafter, the government tightened border controls, constructed barriers along the border, and temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications from North African countries.
Moreover, it passed a law in 2021 criminalizing assistance to migrants in reaching Greek shores. This means that anyone who helps migrants, rescues them from drowning, or brings them ashore will be prosecuted for facilitating illegal entry into Greece or aiding human trafficking gangs.
According to human rights organizations, the charges against the rescuers are not supported by evidence. Human Rights Watch issued a statement saying: “The case is based on deeply flawed logic. Saving lives at sea is portrayed as migrant smuggling; therefore, the search-and-rescue group is labeled a criminal organization, and its legitimate fundraising is treated as money laundering.”
