A truly unbelievable story: A #refugee child drowned in the Aegean off the coast of Samos Sunday. Now his father faces criminal charges of endangerment and years in prison. His lawyer calls this a cruel twist of the law. This their story/ 1 spiegel.de/politik/auslan… via @derspiegel
2/ A dinghy carrying 25 migrants run in trouble while nearing a treacherous cape off Samos. The migrants were trying to reach the Greek island from the Turkish coast to request asylum.
3/ The child was with his father on the boat. The father survived, but was arrested by the Greek Coast Guard and now faces charges of exposing a minor to danger that resulted in death. If convicted, under Greek law, he faces a minimum prison sentence of 6 years.
4/ The deadly incident took place early Sunday morning. The Greek Coast Guard had been alerted by @ABoatReport Boat Report already at 00.06 (EET). The lifeless child was found near the coast, around 9AM.
5/ The father’s lawyer, Dimitris Choulis, as well as other legal experts consulted by @derspiegel call the charges the devastated father now faces an almost unprecedented display of harshness, that skews the spirit of the law meant to protect minors.
6/ "By this token, every single asylum-seeking parent who ever came with a minor should have faced similar charges” Choulis says.
7/ The father appeared before an investigator Tuesday noon. The investigator released him pending trial with a prohibition of exiting the country.
8/ The Afghan father was taken handcuffed to identify the child. He left being supported by Coast Guard officers in order not to collapse. All he wants for now is to be able to attend his son’s funeral...
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