Press release – Freedom for Homayoun
Homayoun Sabetara has been innocently kept in prison in Greece for more than three years. Like thousands of others, he is unlawfully accused of driving his own getaway car across the Greek border to apply for asylum. Ahead of his appeal trial on 24 September, 70 organizations, including LeaveNoOneBehind, Borderline Europe and Sea-Watch, are calling for his release and an end to the criminalization of refugees in Europe.
Pylos is not an isolated case! – Q&A on July 3 at 6 pm with the lawyers of Human Rights Legal Project, Samos
Want to learn more about how the incredible team of lawyers, and activists on Samos are tackling border violence, pushbacks, human rights violations and unlawful arrests of refugees? Come to our Q&A on July 3rd at 6pm and meet Dimitris and Ioanna, two of the lawyers of HRLP and the Pylos Defense Team!
The shipwreck of Pylos – 1 year on
One year after the deadliest shipwreck in the Aegean to date and in the history of migration to Europe in recent years, we are not only looking back on a year of incomplete and insincere processing of the events. Also, the grueling legal proceedings against the 9 defendants who were held responsible for the disaster are coming to an end.
Italy’s new Albania deal and its pioneers
In future, Giorgia Meloni will have Albania intercept refugees and bring them to camps before they reach Italian soil. She and the Albanian prime minister swear by human rights standards and speak of "solidarity-based cooperation between the two countries". However, the models for these camps already exist and are common practice in Italy.
Boat tragedy in Greece off Pylos: hundreds of people missing
A boat with 750 asylum seekers on board capsized just outside Pylos, Greece. The ship was sailing from Libya towards Italy. So far, only about 100 people have been rescued, hundreds are still missing - it could be one of the deadliest shipping accidents ever. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and survivors.
Thousands of illegal pushbacks to Austria
Unlawful refoulement of refugees does not only happen at the EU's external borders. The right to protection and asylum is also being trampled on at Germany's southern borders: For example, several NGOs have now jointly highlighted six meticulously documented cases of Syrian war survivors who were apprehended during police checks in Freilassing, Passau and Munich and subsequently illegally repatriated to Austria.
940 people disappeared on Lesbos
940 people who arrived on Lesvos within the last year are untraceable. What exactly happened to them is unclear. But for years, reports of masked men illegally abducting people and abandoning them at sea have been mounting.
Greece bans access to food and water for 571 people on the move
On Thursday 18/05/2023, the Greek Ministry of Migration decided to restrict access to food for people living in the "Mavrovouni" camp. Since Friday, 19/05/2023, only people with an ongoing asylum procedure have been granted access to food and water. 571 people are now being prevented from having the right to access food and water.