Join the live Solidari-tea, 7 December at 5pm on Zoom to meet the team and defendants, hear live updates from Lesvos, and reflect on what solidarity means to us together.
Seán Binder, member of the Free Humanitarians campaign. Copyright: Free Humanitarians.
The trial of 24 humanitarians is set to begin on 4 December in Lesvos, Greece. Among them is Kerry man, Seán Binder who was arrested in 2018 while doing voluntary humanitarian work on the island of Lesvos where he went to help with search and rescue. The defendants face 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charges, which include facilitation of illegal entry and membership of an illegal organisation.
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Growing up on the south coast of Ireland, Seán trained in search and rescue and in 2018 decided to use these skills on Lesvos island where people fleeing to Europe were at risk of drowning. On Lesvos, Seán and the other humanitarians on trial worked in a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO). They conducted rescue missions, gave people essentials like blankets and showed solidarity with people on their arrival in Europe. Seán and his colleagues were shocked when they were arrested in August 2018 and accused of being part of a criminal organisation.
The criminalisation of humanitarian and legal work has become more common in a number of European countries. This makes it more difficult to deliver food, water and medicine to people who need them and to rescue people from drowning in European waters. Humanitarian work is as crucial as ever - nearly 33,000 people have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Seán was held in pre-trial detention for 106 days and has said that as bad as his treatment has been:
“It isn’t as bad as some of the experiences that others have had who are in prison and are not unfortunately listened to.”
— Seán Binder, Free Humanitarians.
Criminalisation of refugees and those who support them, has been part of a policy of deterring people from seeking protection. This is shown by the fact that numerous refugees have been acquitted after being accused of smuggling or ‘facilitating illegal residence’.
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders said:
“A guilty verdict, which could put them in prison for 25 years, would set a dangerous precedent of making criminals of people who support the rights of migrants and refugees across Greece and the European Union. It would lead to more deaths at sea and could see others put behind bars for human rights work.”
— Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
At a time when the rule of law is eroding and human rights are being violated, this trial must apply the law, all of which protects humanitarian activity.
What is a Mass Climate Lobby Day, and why you should attend!
Thousands of people gathered in Dublin on Saturday, 15 November to demand that the Irish government deliver faster and just climate action and see an end to fossil fuel power. Everyone deserves an affordable home powered by clean energy. It was a part of a Global Day of Action during the critical COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil where people across the globe turned up in huge numbers in major cities.
Why should you join the National Climate Demonstration?
Excitement is building for the upcoming National Climate Demonstration, which takes place on Saturday, 15 November starting at the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin at 1pm.
“It isn’t as bad as some of the experiences that others have had who are in prison and are not unfortunately listened to.”
“A guilty verdict, which could put them in prison for 25 years, would set a dangerous precedent of making criminals of people who support the rights of migrants and refugees across Greece and the European Union. It would lead to more deaths at sea and could see others put behind bars for human rights work.”
