Greek appeal prolongs detention of refugee rescue workers Seán Binder and Sarah Mardini

Humanitarian Work Criminalized: The Plight of Refugee Rescue Workers in Greece
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The Supreme Court of Greece is set to hear an appeal, launched by a prosecutor, against refugee rescue volunteers Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder, which may result in the misdemeanours case against them being sent back to court for a new trial. The two rescue workers were arrested in 2018 while volunteering on the Greek shoreline to help refugees and migrants at risk of drowning at sea. They face charges of espionage and forgery, which can carry sentences of up to eight years in prison. What is more, Mardini and Binder have also been subjected to an ongoing investigation since 2018 for unfounded felony charges carrying up to 20 years in prison.

Against the backdrop of rising anti-immigrant sentiment and harsh treatment of refugees and migrants in Europe, the criminalization of refugee rescue workers’ humanitarian work is not only a violation of human rights but is also antithetical to values of empathy and compassion. The support and assistance that Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder provided was an act of humanity that should have been celebrated rather than questioned.

If the Supreme Court upholds the indictment against them, it will give impetus to the chilling effect that may deter others from acting in the future. The criminalization of these innocent humanitarian workers is sending a message to other activists and volunteers that their selfless acts of kindness may be punished, and that they may be targeted by the criminal justice system for their work with refugees and migrants.

The need of the hour is for greater empathy and compassion towards refugees and migrants who are caught up in complex crises, which range from political instability, conflict, environmental degradation, and poverty, to name a few. Criminalizing those who are trying to provide comfort and support is setting a dangerous precedent that pits compassion against legislation. This oppression of human rights workers in Greece should be a wake-up call for all governments and societies alike to protect the rights and dignity of refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants, and all those who are trying to support them.

The case of Mardini and Binder underscores the harsh reality that some governments are adopting punitive measures to curtail, rather than support, the humanitarian work of those who seek to help refugees and migrants. Often, the criminalization of aid workers is being done under the pretext of preventing smuggling and trafficking, but these laws are flawed and open to misuse.

It is time for a more nuanced and human-centered approach to support the work of refugee and migrant rights defenders, who are driven by compassion, empathy, and the pursuit of human dignity. As human rights researcher Adriana Tidona stated recently, “Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder should never have been put on trial for their human rights work. They were simply volunteering on the Greek shoreline, helping refugees and migrants at risk of drowning at sea, when they were arrested in 2018.”

The Greek authorities need to listen to the plea of Amnesty International and drop all charges against Mardini and Binder. These charges are not only an abuse of anti-smuggling legislation but also lack any evidence to back them up. The Greek Government should redraw all punitive legislation that targets refugee rescue workers and prioritize the protection of human rights defenders who are providing comfort and assistance to those who are in crisis.

It is high time for the international community to step up and defend the rights of those who are doing the necessary work of offering assistance to those in need. If we fail to act now, millions of refugees, migrants, and asylum-seekers around the world could be deprived of the support that they so rightly deserve.

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