Nearly five years have passed since a high-profile case put a spotlight on two humanitarian workers, a German diver named Sean Binder and a Syrian refugee and swimmer known as Sarah Mardini. European court systems accused them of espionage as members of a supposed criminal network, along with charges of money laundering and even human trafficking. The alleged crimes were said to occur while Binder and Mardini were aiding refugees and migrants adrift in the Aegean Sea as part of an international NGO active between 2016 and 2018.
Both defendants were released on parole after a period of detention, including about a hundred days behind bars in 2018. Mardini, who later obtained refugee status, faced a ban on entering Greece and other Greek lands. This Tuesday, they appeared again in court, alongside 22 other humanitarian workers, facing charges that could carry up to 25 years in prison. The hearing marked the first time the group spoke in the case.
Binder publicly defended the actions of rescuers, emphasizing that search and rescue is essential and that people have a right to asylum. He spoke from a U.S. courtroom ahead of the session and urged the prosecution to uphold the rule of law. The hearing occurred in the city where the trial began, a reminder of the ongoing tension around maritime rescue and asylum procedures in Europe.
Human Rights Watch and other international voices called the proceedings a dangerous criminalization of humanitarian solidarity. A statement from the NGO criticized the trial as riddled with procedural flaws that undermine the right to a fair process while saving lives at sea. Meanwhile, a report by the European Parliament has described the case as a stark example of solidarity facing aggressive legal pushback in Europe.
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When a large wave of refugees first arrived on Greek shores, locals and communities stepped forward to help. About 1.5 million Syrians entered Europe through the islands, with many destinations shifting toward Germany and Sweden rather than staying in Greece. But subsequent arrivals did not receive the same level of openness. Many refugees became stranded on Greek soil, with some islands effectively turning into crowded, improvised shelters. Over time, agreements between Turkey and the European Union influenced migration dynamics, and reports by human rights groups documented incidents of pushbacks at sea and on land. Since 2020, these returns, coupled with incidents of violence against those seeking asylum, have drawn strong denials from the Greek authorities when questioned.
In related court actions, a Somali migrant faced a lengthy sentence for piloting the boat that carried asylum seekers from Turkey to Greece. His sentence was later reduced after the defense demonstrated that smugglers had coerced him into taking part. He is scheduled for early release under conditional terms after serving a portion of his sentence.
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The indictment against Mardini, Binder, and their colleagues frames Greece as a nation trying to curb refugee movements by any means, yet supporters insist that those who aid others deserve protection, not punishment. Campaigners and advocates emphasize that the group should be able to carry on with their lives without facing unfounded charges. Amnesty International’s campaign manager has spoken about the broader context of these cases and their implications for refugees and humanitarian workers.
As part of the prosecution’s narrative, authorities point to alleged coordination through radio channels used by coast guards and the alleged use of vehicles with improvised or fake license plates, along with encrypted messaging tools. The defense has argued that these elements reflect standard operations by humanitarian teams rather than criminal activity. During discussions before the trial, Binder stated that if found guilty of espionage, he would be accused for actions taken to save lives, arguing that aiding in rescue operations should not be treated as illegal activity or money laundering simply because it involves a non-governmental organization and the use of everyday communication tools.