More than 2,000 people have been charged with “smuggling” in Greece and in the vast majority of cases are innocent detainees. It is almost always people seeking protection themselves who are arrested after crossing the border into Greece. This is mainly due to the EU’s “anti-smuggling” directive, which has not only missed its target by a wide margin for years but, in combination with the lack of legal escape routes, actually exacerbates the problem. What is supposed to serve to protect refugees is actually their downfall and highlights the incredible injustice and brutality with which the EU has been treating refugees for years.

We can still find hope! Thanks to the human rights organizations on the ground that are looking, intervening and making solidarity a practical reality. For example, the teams of the Human Rights Legal Project on Samos and the Legal Center Lesvos. As lawyers and activists, they intervene where people are innocently imprisoned and offer them legal representation in court proceedings.

The courts charge fees and the individual cases require counseling and processing. All of this costs money – and that’s why, at Christmas, we are standing by the side of all refugees who will spend their entire lives innocently in prison, not just over the holidays, but without legal representation.

Are you an artist, illustrator or graphic novelist? Can you imagine generating attention for the topic with a drawing or a short comic? Then take part in our campaign and write to us at: zeroyears@lnob.net!