Greek Court Acquits Rescue Volunteers in Landmark Ruling

A Greek court has acquitted a group of 24 rescue volunteers who aided migrants on the island of Lesvos, concluding a high-profile case that attracted significant criticism from international human rights organizations. Among those acquitted is Syrian swimmer Sarah Mardini, whose story inspired the 2022 Netflix film 'The Swimmers.' She was arrested in 2018 and faced allegations of facilitating illegal entry and forming a criminal organization. The court found the defendants, affiliated with the Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI), not guilty, with the prosecutor having already recommended acquittal due to insufficient evidence. Notably, one of the defendants was known for routinely alerting port authorities about incoming boats. Supporters welcomed the acquitted volunteers outside the courthouse, cheering for their release. Following the verdict, many members of the group celebrated with a nighttime swim in the island's port. Mardini, reflecting on the ordeal, stated, "We didn’t do anything illegal. If helping people is a crime, then we are all guilty." This ruling has been celebrated by human rights advocates but is also marked by a sense of bittersweet vindication; the lengthy legal process lasted seven years and was deemed unnecessary by many observers. Eva Cosse, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that two dozen individuals were subjected to this ordeal merely for attempting to save lives. Sarah Mardini, who fled the Syrian war in 2015 alongside her sister Yusra, vividly recounted the treacherous sea journey from Turkey to Lesvos where they swam for hours to keep an overloaded dinghy afloat before reaching safety. After settling in Germany, Mardini returned to the island for volunteer work, leading to her arrest and subsequent detention for over three months. This acquittal takes place amidst increasing pressure from Greece and other European Union countries to crack down on irregular migration, including proposals for expanding deportations of rejected asylum seekers. Eve Geddie, a senior official at Amnesty International, expressed hope that the court's decision would reaffirm the importance of humanitarian aid, stating, "We hope today’s decision sends a strong signal to Greece and other European countries that solidarity, compassion, and defending human rights should be protected and celebrated, not punished." Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2