The arrest of Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder is the latest case of a worrying trend towards the criminalisation of solidarity in Europe. The two volunteers were arrested by the Greek authorities on 21 August for helping refugees and migrants arriving by sea on Lesbos island. With this joint letter, European civil society organisations call on the Greek authorities to release Sarah and Sean while their trial is pending.
Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder – who are accused of smuggling by Greek Authorities – are currently in pre-trial detention. Sarah became known when she and her sister pulled a boat to safety and saved a dozen refugees in 2015. Like many individuals and organisations providing support and first aid to migrants and refugees across Europe, the two volunteers could face jail time.
European civil society actors have continuously opposed the intimidation and punishment of volunteers and non-governmental organisations. State practices that criminalise EU citizens for their solidarity with migrants and refugees are intolerable and risk our fundamental European values of justice and human rights.
Charges against Sarah and Seán occur in a broader context of a pan-European trend towards criminalising solidarity. As part of the #WelcomingEurope European Citizens’ Initiative, hundreds of civil society organisations and thousands of European citizens are fighting back against these restrictive policies that have created a hostile environment for people who help refugees and migrants.
Through this official EU tool, 1 million signatures from European citizens have the power to get the European Commission to comply with our joint-demand: end the criminalisation of solidarity acts across Europe.
Join the call to #FreeSarahAndSean
Tell EU leaders that helping people in need is no crime by signing the petition: www.weareawelcomingeurope.eu
Follow and share: #HelpIsNoCrime #FreeSarahAndSean
Signatories
| 1. Migration Policy Group
2. Picum 3. VolontEurope 4. JRS 5. Emmaüs Europe 6. AEDH 7. Sick of waiting 8. CCME 9. Migrant Voice 10. International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe 11. Refugees Welcome Denmark 12. Maisha e.V. African Women in Germany 13. Association for Integration and Migration 14. Federación SOS Racismo 15. Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria 16. FLEX 17. La Strada International 18. Consortium of Migrants Assisting Organizations 19. Health Centre for Undocumented Migrants 20. Medinetz Mainz e.V. 21. Verenigde Protestantse Kerk in België – Eglise Protestante Unie de Belgique 22. Jugendliche ohne Grenzen – Youth without borders 23. Rosengrenska 24. LEGIS Volunteers 25. Medibüro Kiel e.V 26. Secours Catholique 27. Parents International 28. Borderline-Europe 29. Afrique Culture Maroc
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30. Stichting LOS
31. SB OverSeas 32. The Salvation Army Europe 33. ForumFer 34. Menedek 35. J&P 36. SOS Racism 37. ASTI 38. Greek Council for Refugees 39. Mundo en Movimiento 40. SolidarityNow 41. HIAS 42. Human rights league 43. La Cimade 44. Oxfam Belgium 45. Passerell 46. Liga voor de Rechten van de Mens – Dutch League for Human Rights 47. CNCD 48. Positive Action 49. European Network of Migrant Women 50. New Europeans 51. Hellenic League for human rights 52. LIDU- Lega italiana dei Diritti dell’Uomo 53. Oxfam Germany 54. Welcoming Europe: Per un’Europa che accoglie 55. Réseau Education Sans Frontières 56. Ligue des droits de l’Homme 57. League for Human Rights – Civitas 58. ENAR 59. JRS Greece 60. The Greek Forum of Refugees |