Netflix ‘swimmer’ acquitted from humanitarian charges in Greece
Part of a larger group helping migrants gain passageway to Lesbos, Greece, Sarah Mardini has been acquitted of charges held against her of trafficking migrants, according to The New Arab and agencies on January 16th.
Mardini is a Syrian swimmer, whose powerful story led to Netflix’s film, ‘The Swimmers’, inspired by the rescue of her sister and many others in their plight for safety. Later becoming a swimmer in the Refugee team in Rio de Janeiro’s 2016 Olympics, Mardini and her family fought for their lives in the Aegean Sea just the year previous. She and her sister used their abilities to help others forced to flee, aiding those fearing for their lives in the vast waters.
She, along with a group of activists, part of NGO ERCI, aimed to aid others in their journeys from Turkey into Greece. While the legalities have been ongoing since 2018, the ruling was brief. They had been previously charged with illegally helping people enter the country, but after a month’s trial, their verdict reflected the aims of the group, rather trying to be humanitarian than commit criminal acts.
Both the judge Vassilis Papathanassiou and prosecutor Dimitris Smyrnis saw their acquittal as necessary, with views that their actions were not demonstrative as that of criminals.
As a person who has faced the challenges of migration herself, Mardini’s perspective was reflective of her humanitarian wishes. She described the importance of saving people, and the injustice of being called a criminal in doing so. With so many making the journey across seas and seeking refuge in other countries, Mardini forms part of many desiring to help those undergoing treacherous crossings.
In her pledge to do so, Mardini was imprisoned for three months in Greece in 2018. Zaharias Kesses, Mardini’s lawyer, described the length of the case as being unfair, as she had been awaiting trial for many years. He also mentioned the differences in willingness to aid others before and after this case was brought forward, noticing the fear spreading of facing legal action and therefore a lack of willing people to serve humanitarian organisations.
Amnesty International have spoken out about the treatment of Mardini and the other activists who have been awaiting this trial, stating that the charges were unjust and should not have been allowed to be brought forth. They urged the EU to review their laws on humanitarian assistance.
Human Rights Watch also spoke out about the injustice the activists faced, describing the legalities as abusive and problematic as more people lose their lives in the Aegean Sea.
But this isn’t the first time charges like this have been brought forth against activists in Greece. Volunteers in 2023 faced similar backlash against their helping of others, one charge being ‘espionage’. They were also eventually acquitted, yet this raises questions as to why humanitarian aid is viewed in this light.
The New Arab and agencies/ Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
