The State of Humanitarianism in Greece
Humanitarianism is not a crime. However, this is not the case in Greece, where aid workers may face prison sentences for saving lives.
Greece is one of the top entry points for migrants trying to reach the European Union. Since the refugee crisis in 2015, in which over 1 million people seeking protection arrived on European shores, Greece has been on the spot regarding its treatment of asylum seekers and migrants. Some Greek Islands, such as Lesbos or Samos, became known worldwide for the infamous living conditions in which refugees lived, which has not gotten better since almost 9 years ago.
Greek coastguards and authorities have continued their abuses against asylum seekers, including violent pushbacks and maltreatment while in detention facilities. The catastrophe that occurred on June 14, 2023, in which a boat carrying an estimated 750 people sank while trying to reach the coast of Pylos in Southern Greece, remains unforgettable. It was a disaster that, according to Human Rights Watch investigations, took place before the eyes of the Greek Coast Guard which deliberately chose not to act. Tragedies such as this seem to happen every day, on June 17, 2024, a BBC investigative program showed there is evidence of the Greek Coast Guard forcing migrants overboard to their deaths.
However, the abuses of Greek authorities are not only aimed towards migrants and asylum seekers, they also target aid workers who only mean to save lives. The latest case has been that of Tommy Olsen, the founder of Aegon Boat Report, who faces up to 20 years in prison under smuggling accusations. Olsen (51), who has been helping people since he was a volunteer in Lesbos in 2015, had an arrest warrant issued against him in May by the authorities of the island of Kos. He is accused by the Kos prosecutor of belonging to a criminal organization that provided shelter and assistance to illegal migrants and refugees attempting to enter from Turkey into Greece. According to Olsen, the reason Greek authorities are targeting him is because of his public criticism of pushbacks, his collaboration with the media, and his readiness to testify in support of charges against Greece in the European Court of Human Rights.
Olsen’s case is not an isolated one. There is a pattern of action in which the Greek authorities are seeking to criminalize saving lives in order to stop search and rescue missions at sea. Greece has tightened its crackdown on those expressing support for migrants throughout the past years. Journalists covering the Greek government's handling of migration at its borders have been surveilled, and those participating in search and rescue operations have been detained.
For instance, in 2016, Greek authorities arrested three Spanish aid workers and two Danes under claims of human trafficking after being involved in rescue missions on the Aegean Sea, facing up to 10 years in prison. They were cleared of all charges in 2018 by a Greek court.
In 2018, 24 Humanitarian workers were accused of offenses like human trafficking and espionage, including Sarah Mardini, a well-known Syrian refugee aid worker whose life inspired the Netflix movie “The Swimmers”. In 2021, the Lesbos court postponed the judicial proceedings for lack of jurisdiction, referring the case to a higher court. The long-awaited trial took place in 2023, in which the misdemeanor charges were dropped by the Court due to a lack of translation of documents. However, they are still facing felony charges.
In 2020, 35 foreign aid workers were alleged to have spied on and helped illegal immigrants enter the country. At the beginning of May 2024, a Greek court dismissed the criminal charges because there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
These are just a few of many examples that showcase a troubling trend in the criminalization of essential humanitarian aid. These prosecutions extend well beyond the aid workers being charged, it is how Greek authorities are sending a threatening message to anyone willing to assist migrants and asylum seekers, potentially discouraging them from being involved. With fewer aid workers able or willing to operate under the threat of prosecution, migrants and refugees are left more vulnerable. The Eastern Mediterranean route is one of the most common migration routes, registering nearly 1700 deaths and disappearances since 2014, a number that might increase in the absence of sufficient search and rescue operations.
This criminalization campaign reflects not only the position of Greece on migration but also that of a broader Europe, with the European Union recently adopting tighter measures, such as the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Pact, adopted on the 10th of April in the European Parliament, has been highly criticized by NGOs, civil society organizations and experts for its stricter border regime, detention policies, racial profiling, and further collaboration for outsourcing asylum obligations with non-European countries, many of which have questionable human rights practices.
Looking forward, the international community must confront these violations of human rights and stand behind individuals who compromise their freedom to save lives. Legislative changes and safeguards for aid workers are needed to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not treated as a crime. Greece and the EU must reevaluate their immigration policies to bring them into compliance with the core principles of solidarity and human dignity.
As we reflect on these injustices, let us remember the words of Audre Lorde: “Your silence will not protect you”. It is time to fight for those who risk everything to help others and for those whose voices are lost in the sea.
References:
Conte, C., & Yavcan, B. (2024, April 23). Reflection Paper on the New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Migration Policy Group. https://www.migpolgroup.com/index.php/2024/04/23/reflection-paper-on-the-new-eu-pact-on-migration-and-asylum/
Domínguez, B., & Gálvez, J. (2016, January 15). Greece arrests three Spanish aid workers trying to assist refugees. EL PAÍS English. https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/15/inenglish/1452868298_458554.html
Greek court clears Spanish and Danish aid workers on migrant smuggling charges. (2018, May 8). InfoMigrants. https://www.infomigrants.net/fr/post/9125/greek-court-clears-spanish-and-danish-aid-workers-on-migrant-smuggling-charges
Human Rights Watch. (2024, January 11). Greece: Events of 2023. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/greece
International Organization for Migration. (2024). Missing Migrants Project. Iom.int. https://missingmigrants.iom.int/region/mediterranean
Kittler, N. (2024, January 17). Alleviating the suffering on Lesbos . Www.dandc.eu. https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/thousands-refugees-continue-live-greek-island-unacceptable-conditions-they-receive-support
Lorde, A. (2017). Your Silence Will Not Protect You. In Google Books. Silver Press. https://books.google.es/books/about/Your_Silence_Will_Not_Protect_You.html?id=dDlJswEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
MacGregor, M. (2024, May 2). Greece drops charges against 35 aid workers. InfoMigrants. https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/56831/greece-drops-charges-against-35-aid-workers
Psaropoulos, J. T. (2024, June 24). Norwegian accused by Greece of smuggling: “I’ve perhaps made people angry.” Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/24/norwegian-accused-by-greece-of-smuggling-ive-perhaps-made-people-angry
Shankar, P. (2023, September 1). Migrant aid workers in Greece could face years in prison . Dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/migrant-aid-workers-in-greece-could-face-years-in-prison/a-64330878
Smith, L., & Steele, B. (2024, June 17). Greek coastguard threw migrants overboard to their deaths, witnesses say. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0vv717yvpeo
Update: Ruling in the Case of Sarah Mardini, Seán Binder, and 22 Others. (2023, January 13). منصة اللاجئين في مصر. https://rpegy.org/en/update-ruling-in-the-case-of-sarah-mardini-sean-binder-and-22-others/
About the author:
Carolina is a dedicated internationalist focused on human rights and humanitarian aid. She contributes as a Junior Officer in a humanitarian consultancy and has volunteered with refugees in Greece. Passionate about women’s rights and intersectionality, she is also actively involved as a Research Officer with Politics4Her Europe.
