CNN
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One trial of 24 lifeguards began in Greece, drawing criticism from human rights groups and the European Parliament, which called the proceedings “the largest case of criminalization of solidarity in Europe.”
The trial of Sean Binder, Sarah Mardini and 22 other volunteers from the NGO Emergency Response Center International search and rescue organization began in Lesbos on Tuesday, according to Grace O’Sullivan, an EU lawmaker who said she accompanied Binder to court.
The two most famous defendants, Binder and Mardini, were arrested in 2018 after they participated in a number of search and rescue operations around the island of Lesbos to assist refugees stranded at sea.
Binder, a trained diver, holds dual Irish and German citizenship, while Mardini is a Syrian refugee who arrived in Europe by sea.
Mardini gained international attention after it was reported that she and her sister had saved the lives of asylum seekers when the boat they were traveling from Turkey to Greece crashed. Mardini Yusra’s sister continued to swim for the Refugee team at the Olympics. The story of two sisters was recently brought to life in The Netflix movie “The Swimmers.”
Mardini returned to Greece in 2016 to volunteer for the International Center for Emergency Response, where she worked alongside Binder.
Both have been charged with felony counts including espionage, assisting a smuggling network, membership in a criminal organization and money laundering and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. , according to a European Parliament report published in June 2021.
Mardini’s attorney Zacharias Kesses in 2018 called the allegations “arbitrary”, adding in a video statement that the allegations “have nothing to do with corroborating evidence”. Binder has also denied the allegations, warning that their case has “scarred people and kept them away from this kind of work.”
According to a report by the European Parliament, the case “is currently the largest criminalization of solidarity in Europe”.
“All we ask, all our lawyers ask, is that the law be respected. That Greek law is respected,” Binder told journalists Tuesday after the day’s trial ended.
“We want the rule of law, and we will find out on Friday whether we will achieve the rule of law or the principle of error,” Binder continued, saying the prosecution had made a “hole. hole after hole” in their case.
22, Human Rights Watch called on the Greek prosecutor to drop the charges, saying the case “effectively criminalizes the life-saving humanitarian solidarity of people on the move”.
Nils Muižnieks, Director of Amnesty International’s European Regional Office, said in a January 5 statement that the trial “shows that the Greek authorities will go to great lengths to prevent humanitarian assistance from entering the country.” and prevent migrants and refugees from finding safety on the country’s shores.”
“It is ridiculous that this trial is even going on. Muižnieks added that all charges against the rescue force must be dropped immediately.
