It’s been almost five years since he went to jail. A Sean Bindera German diver and sarah martiniswimmer and Syrian refugee, Greek courts accused them of espionage as members of an organization. criminal organization, money laundering and even human trafficking. Supposedly, all these crimes were committed while Binder and Mardini were trying to rescue refugees and migrants drifting in the Aegean Sea for a while. international NGO between 2016 and 2018.
Both were released on parole after a while. a hundred days behind barsin 2018. To Mardini, which has gained refugee status GermanyGreece forbade him to set foot in Hellenic lands again. This Tuesday, both – along with 22 other humanitarian workers – took the floor for the first time for charges that could lead to it. up to 25 years in prison.
“Since search and rescue is allowed, people right to seek asylum. Simply put, the rule of law must be respected and I hope the prosecution does that today”, Binder said in US court this Tuesday. lesbosthe place where the first hearing of the trial was held.
“This situation criminalizes humanitarian solidarity “It is full of procedural failures that try to save lives at sea and undermine the defendants’ right to a fair trial,” the international NGO said in a statement on Tuesday. Human Rights Watch (HRW) this is an explanation. In fact, a report from the European Parliament concludes that this case is “the greatest crime of solidarity in Europe”.
policy change
When the big first came refugee wave Towards the Greek shores, the land of Hellenes and its inhabitants turned to help. About 1.5 million Syrians arrived in Europe via the islands, with the final destination not Greece but countries such as Germany and Sweden.
But those who came later were not so lucky. They were forced to stay stranded in Greece and its islands, which had turned into open-air prisons. Over the years – and the refugee deal between Turkey and the EU – Greece has turned its back on Greece. refugees They were trying to cross the Aegean. In 2018, human rights organizations began documenting cases. hot returns By the Greek police both by sea and by land. Since 2020, these returns, sprinkled with robbery and violence against refugees and asylum seekers, systematic. But the Greek government denies everything.
came in parallel court cases: a somali immigrantFor example, he was sentenced to prison. 142 years in prison for driving the barge that he and other asylum seekers had arrived on from Turkey to Greece two years ago. This Monday, his sentence was reduced 37 years in prison because the defense was able to prove that the smugglers forced the Somali to use the boat. The man has been in prison for two years and will be released. conditional freedom in a month.
Radios, SUVs and WhatsApp
“The indictment against Sarah Mardini and Séan Binder speaks of Greece’s efforts to keep refugees and migrants away at all costs, and that includes targeting those who are committed to helping those who come. What accusations [los 24 trabajadores humanitarios] face unfair and baseless. “They all need to retreat in order to get on with their lives,” he said. Yorgos KosmopulosImmigration campaign manager for NGO Amnesty International.
As evidence of the crimes alleged to be committed by the defendants, the Greek prosecutor’s office claims that Binder, Mardini and other humanitarian aid workers listened to the organization’s radio channels. Greek Coast Guardthey used jeeps communicated with fake military license plates and an encrypted messaging app. this app Whats up.
“If we are found guilty espionage Binder said he used WhatsApp prior to the trial’s first hearing – if illegal entry into the country ‘Cause we saved people, yeah we launder black money Because we were a non-governmental organization… In other words, those who do search and rescue at sea, those who work in charity, and those who use WhatsApp are guilty of all these crimes,” he said.