Thread by @AmnestyEU

Tomorrow, the trial of the #Samos2 begins in #Greece

Afghan refugee N. faces up to 10 years in prison for the death of his 6-year old son, who drowned on the journey from Turkey to Greece, while travelling with his father and 22 others in November 2020.

aljazeera.com/features/2022/…

Hasan, also from #Afghanistan, faces smuggling charges for being at the wheel of the boat, and life imprisonment for N’s son’s death & 230 years in prison for endangering the lives of the other passengers.

70+ organisations are calling for the charges against both to be dropped

Amnesty has repeatedly denounced the increasingly hostile environment for refugees and migrants in Greece. Changes in Greek migration law and policy mean fewer safeguards for #asylumseekers and an increased possibility of detention.

amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

Exposing people seeking safety to draconian trials is another tactic to dissuade people from seeking asylum in Greece, and does nothing to protect lives at borders.

To the contrary, violent pushbacks remain rampant and unpunished and the criminalization of aid groups continues.

The #Samos2 case is emblematic of a wider trend of criminalisation of those seeking safety in Europe, and those who try to help them –in Greece, and in Europe more broadly. Without safe and legal routes, lives will continue to be risked, and lost.

amnesty.org/en/latest/camp…