A hearing involving 24 volunteers and activists began Tuesday on the Greek island of Lesvos, prompting OHCHR to warn of the “chilling effect” it has had on other rights defenders, those who have paused their work in Greece and other European Union countries.
Those tested were all affiliated with the International Emergency Response Center, or ERCI; Between 2016 and 2018, the group helped more than 1,000 people reach safety and provided survivors with medical and other support on Lesvos, OHCHR said.
Voice of reason
“I think it’s completely clear, that you have people in distress at sea, people in boats that can capsize or can sink; They are in the water and there is no one to rescue them,” said UN human rights office spokesman Liz Throssell.
“That’s why we say that this trial, and others like it, are absolutely disturbing because they criminalize actions that save lives.”
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Throssell noted that those on trial include a Syrian refugee and foreign nationals, such as Sean Binder, a German of Irish descent.
The OHCHR official explained that the defendants face charges including several alleged misdemeanors related to the facilitation of migrant smuggling, and she welcomed Friday’s news. that the prosecution had asked to drop some of the charges.
cut drift
Today, there are no civil society rescue teams operating in Greek waters, Ms. Throssell reiterated, despite the fact that 492 migrants have died or gone missing in the Eastern Mediterranean since 2021According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Similar trials against other human rights activists have taken place in several other EU countries including Hungary, Italy and Malta, the OHCHR official continued.
“The fact of saving lives, helping humanity is very important and it should never be criminalized by any State.and that’s why in this particular case we say the charges against these defendants should be dropped,” she said.
by IOM Missing Migrant Project updates on migrant deaths in the region and has recorded nearly 1,700 deaths and disappearances on the East Mediterranean Sea route since 2014, including nearly 500 children.
Many of the victims are known to be from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
A large rubber boat full of refugees is towed ashore on the island of Lesbos, in the North Aegean region. (file)
