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Spotlight Borders is a podcast dedicated to people on the move and their supporters
After Greece implemented one of the toughest lockdowns in Europe, the restrictions were lifted for the majority of the population at the start of the 2020 tourism season and not reintroduced. In the camps on the East Aegean islands, however, they continue to apply: people are only allowed to leave for very specific reasons and are effectively locked up.
A young Palestinian man has been charged with a lifelong prison sentence for illegal transportation of third-country nationals without being granted a fair trail. Now, the Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund is supporting his appeal case.
The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund has begun issuing funds to persons criminalised as they were providing humanitarian support on the Greek island of Lesvos on behalf of the NGO, Emergency Response Center International (ERCI).
Kai Kaltegärtner faced employment discrimination because of his work for a Search and Rescue NGO. Although the employment agency denies this, they failed to provide compelling evidence that the decision was not discriminatory. This led the Dutch Human Rights Committee to conclude that Kai Kaltegärtner was discriminated against because of his political opinions.
After three unsuccessful attempts to cross the Turkish-Greek border, H. was forced by traffickers to cross the border by car. Now, he is being charged with human smuggling and treated as an adult, although he will only turn 18 in September this year.
The Prosecutor of Syros, Greece, has charged 6 individuals with facilitating a shipwreck and setting up a criminal organisation after their vessel ran into distress of Mykonos. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund supports the Human Rights Legal Project in their defence of the accused. Such criminalisation of migrants seeking safety and asylum cannot be allowed to continue.
The outbreak of fires at a refugee camp on Samos (Greece) in 2020 has worsened the already precarious living conditions on site. It is appalling that Greek authorities have blamed camp residents for the fires, subjecting them to arbitrary arrests. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund has decided to support the Human Rights Legal Project in their fight for a fair trial.
As part of the so-called Seehofer-Deal, people are being deported from Germany to Greece without legal protection and without a procedure. These intra-European pushbacks affect people’s fundamental rights. In an otherwise successful summary proceeding, Equal Rights Beyond Borders lost the main proceeding for procedural reasons and incurred costs.
There has been a successful result in the case of two individuals, ‘N’ and Hasan, who were accused by the Greek state of baseless charges of smuggling and child endangerment.
On Christmas eve, when many families are celebrating their love for each other, others die trying to reach the supposed safety of Europe. But Fortress Europe pushes them back, and should people nevertheless be successful, they will be charged for their attempt to find life in dignity.
The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund is supporting a unique project aiming to help criminalised migrant boat drivers in Italy.
Syri Chock (pseudonym) was kept in prison for over four months. He was arrested in Greece near the border to Albania in June 2021 after being injured in the woods for over a day. Shortly after the trial, he was released with a comparatively low suspended sentence.
In Belgium, eleven people were criminalised for their solidarity with people on the move. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund covers the legal fees for the affected individuals.
Frontex is trying to intimidate civil society by demanding horrendous sums of money. Even the European Parliament has intervened. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund has taken over the payout.
The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund is supporting an exciting, vital legal challenge led by lawyers from Prakken d’Oliveira against the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
When the Federal Ministry of Transport amended two regulations to the effect that ships used for humanitarian purposes must meet commercial safety requirements, this was tantamount to a de facto ban for some organisations. Mare Liberum e.V., in close cooperation with other sea rescue organisations, has taken legal action against the legal change. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund has financially supported the legal action.
Following a port state control, the Alan Kurdi is detained in the port of Palermo. Even an objection by the German flag state did not secure the release of the ship. This is not about the safety of the people on the ships, but about a political strategy to preserve the fortress Europe. The case before the administrative court in Palermo is financially supported by the Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund.
In August 2017, one of the first civil sea rescue vessels was confiscated: The IUVENTA of the organisation JUGEND RETTET e.V. One year later it becomes known that 10 former crew members are also being investigated. Even after three years, there is still no verdict - in 2020 the campaign work is financially supported by the Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund.
Following a state of emergency on board, Captain Carola Rackete brings 40 people rescued at sea to the port of Lampedusa. Subsequently, she is put under house arrest and is being investigated on multiple counts. The ship, the Sea-Watch 3, was seized for months. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund financed the detention trial all the way to Italy's highest court, as well as the release of the ship.
In June 2018, Sea-Watch 3 was refused permission to leave the port of Malta. Despite meeting all security requirements, it took four months before the ship was allowed to leave the port again. Sea-Watch sued the Maltese authorities for the unlawful detainment and the resulting costs. The Sea-Watch Legal Aid Fund supported Sea-Watch by covering the legal costs.
