Country Case State
🇬🇷 GreeceIngeborg Beugel – hosting an asylum seeker (Greece) Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel was prosecuted in Greece for hosting an Afghan asylum seeker whose initial application had been rejected and who was… label Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceERCI volunteers – search and rescue, Lesvos (Mardini/Binder case) Twenty-four volunteers from the NGO Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI) faced criminal prosecution for search and rescue activities conduct… label Search and rescue at seasailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇱🇻 LatviaIeva Raubiško – assisting asylum seekers at the Latvia–Belarus border Latvian citizen, Ieva Raubiško was charged for assisting a group of asylum seekers at the Latvia-Belarus border in January 2023 and working to ensure… label Border crossing assistancelandscape Landgavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇨🇾 CyprusDoros Polykarpou (KISA) – charges following Pournara incident Doros Polykarpou, director of human rights NGO KISA faces trumped up misdemeanour charges of disturbance, public insult, assault, and unlawful entry.… label Monitoring & human rights observationlabel Human rights defender / journalist targetedlandscape Landhourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceTommy Olsen (Aegean Boat Report) – monitoring and reporting charges Norwegian human rights defender Tommy Olsen is facing up to 20 years in prison after Greek authorities issued a national arrest warrant against him. O… label Monitoring & human rights observationlabel Human rights defender / journalist targetedsailing Seahourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇮🇹 ItalyMediterranea crew – Maersk Etienne rescue case Six crew members of the humanitarian organisation Mediterranea are facing serious criminal charges following a rescue operation carried out in Septemb… label Search and rescue at seasailing Seahourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇲🇹 MaltaEl-Hiblu 3 – terrorism charges over boat in distress In 2019, three teenagers – known as ‘El-Hiblu 3’ – fled Libya on a rubber boat. Once rescued, despite being instructed to return to Libya, the ship he… label Self-rescue by migrantslabel Minors involvedsailing Seahourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇫🇷 FranceBasque activists – Korrika border crossing In March 2024, a group of Basque activists escorted 36 migrants across the border between Irun (Spain) and Hendaye (France) during the Korrika race in… label Civil disobedience / protestlabel Border crossing assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇵🇱 Poland“H5” case – humanitarian assistance at the Polish–Belarusian border Five individuals were charged with facilitating “illegal stay in Poland” after helping a family of nine from Iraq and an Egyptian man near the Polish-… label Humanitarian assistancelabel Border crossing assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇫🇷 FranceUtopia 56 volunteer – false alarm call-out (August 2023) In August 2023, a volunteer from Utopia 56 contacted the authorities to report a dangerous situation at sea. They are now accused of intentionally pro… label Search and rescue at seasailing Seahourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇫🇷 FranceUtopia 56 volunteer – false alarm call-out (August 2024) In August 2024, a volunteer from Utopia 56 contacted emergency services to report the suspicious death of a child that had been relayed to him. He mad… label Search and rescue at seasailing Seahourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇵🇱 PolandKrosno Odrzańskie protest – ten activists convicted On 12 February 2022, 100 protesters gathered in front of a detention centre to protest the inhumane treatment of migrants and refugees. Reportedly, th… label Civil disobedience / protestlandscape Landgavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceCatalan activist – facilitating irregular migration In 2020, a Catalan activist was arrested by the Greek police. She had been searched upon arrival at the main port of Lesbos, and among her luggage, au… label Border crossing assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇵🇱 PolandBartosz – ‘influencing Border Guard officers’ charge In 2024, Bartosz, a volunteer who provides humanitarian aid on the Polish-Belarusian border met a group of migrants, including a Somali national who w… label Legal aid / legal defencelabel Border crossing assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇱🇻 LatviaAbdulaal H. and Martine D. – rescuing family members at the border In November 2023, Latvian border guards arrested Dutch citizens Abdulaal H. and Martine D. on charges of "illegally transporting migrants into the Eur… label Border crossing assistancelabel Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landhourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇫🇷 FranceTaxi driver Juanjo S. – human trafficking conviction In August 2025, taxi driver Juanjo S. was approached by a man who spoke French and Spanish. He was asked whether he could transport four people who on… label Paid transport / trafficking convictionlandscape Landgavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇸🇮 SloveniaDriver transporting partner’s friends – acquitted on appeal The defendant was charged with facilitating prohibited entry by transporting people across borders, specifically transporting his partner's friends, c… label Border crossing assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇫🇷 FranceTaxi driver – human trafficking conviction (Tunisian passengers) A taxi driver was arrested on 13 August 2025 at the French–Spanish border. Police intercepted him while he was transporting three Tunisian passengers.… label Paid transport / trafficking convictionlandscape Landgavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇫🇷 FranceGermà association president – police custody over migrant support work On 9 October 2025, the president of Germà – an association supporting undocumented people and asylum seekers in the Pyrénées-Orientales department – w… label Humanitarian assistancelabel Human rights defender / journalist targetedlandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 Greece1,061 defendants – false medical certificates case, Lesvos On 1 December 2025, a high-profile case concerning false medical certificates for asylum seekers from January to December 2019 was heard at the Single… label Humanitarian assistancelabel Legal aid / legal defencelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇵🇱 PolandEliza K. (POPH) – unauthorised forest entry during a rescue Eliza K., an activist with the Podlaskie Volunteer Humanitarian Emergency Service (POPH), was charged with unauthorized entry into a forest during a h… label Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇵🇱 PolandPaweł W. and Justyna W. – transporting Iraqi refugees Paweł W. and Justyna W. were detained in October 2021 in the Podlasie region while transporting two Iraqi refugees in their car. The married couple, a… label Border crossing assistancelabel Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landhourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceSudanese asylum seeker – steering a boat in distress, Chania In November 2025, the Chania Single-Member Court of Appeal for Felonies acquitted a Sudanese asylum seeker, who - upon his entry into the country toge… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇵🇱 PolandAnonymous activist – border assistance charges In December 2025, an anonymous activist assisting migrants at the Polish–Belarusian border was charged with the "illegal smuggling" of 15 foreign nati… label Border crossing assistancelandscape Landhourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇫🇷 FranceHuman Rights Observers volunteers – arrest in Calais On 7 April 2025 in Calais, two volunteers from Human Rights Observers were arrested and placed in custody by French police, while they were carrying o… label Monitoring & human rights observationlabel Human rights defender / journalist targetedlandscape Landhourglass_top Ongoingexpand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceHomayoun S. – driving a car across the Turkish–Greek border On 25 August 2021, Homayoun S., an Iranian national fleeing his country, was arrested by the Greek authorities in Thessaloniki, after driving a car wi… label Border crossing assistancelandscape Landgavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceNaser (Palestinian asylum seeker) – coast guard attack case In September 2024, while attempting to reach Greece to seek for international protection, Naser, a Palestinian from Gaza and 24 other people onboard a… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceS.A. (Palestinian refugee) – smuggling and shipwreck charges On 25 September 2025, Palestinian refugee S.A. was acquitted at first instance in Greece. He had been charged with facilitating the unauthorized entry… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceTwo Sudanese minors – steering a boat, Heraklion On 7 November 2025, the Three-Member Juvenile Court of Heraklion acquitted two Sudanese asylum seekers accused of illegally transporting foreigners to… label Self-rescue by migrantslabel Minors involvedsailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceAfghan asylum seeker – steering a boat, Rhodes On 10 December 2025, the Criminal Court of Rhodes acquitted an Afghan asylum seeker who had been accused of human smuggling and illegal entry to Greec… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceYoung Sudanese refugee – steering a boat, Crete On 29 July 2025, the Criminal Court of Heraklion, Crete, acquitted a 19-year-old Sudanese refugee who had been accused of of illegally transporting fo… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇮🇹 ItalyDomenico Lucano – former mayor of Riace Former mayor, Domenico Lucano, was criminalised after integration of inclusive policies in the town of Riace. 16 more people were also part of the tri… label Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇮🇹 ItalyRiace case – 12 co-defendants of Domenico Lucano Former mayor, Domenico Lucano, was criminalised after integration of inclusive policies in the town of Riace, together with 16 co-defendants. All the… label Humanitarian assistancelandscape Landcheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceYoung Syrian asylum seeker – steering a boat, Kalymnos On 7 July 2025, a young Syrian was sentenced by the Criminal Court of Rhodes to a total prison term of 11 years and 1 month — with 10 years to be serv… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seagavel Closed (convicted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceAfghan asylum seeker – steering a boat, Samos (family case) On 16 June 2025, the Criminal Court of Samos acquitted an Afghan asylum seeker, father of a seven-member family, who had arrived on the Greek island o… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceSudanese asylum seeker – steering a boat, Samos On 16 June 2025, the Criminal Court of Samos acquitted a Sudanese asylum seeker, who had arrived on the Greek island of Samos in August 2024, was arre… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceYoung Sudanese asylum seeker – steering a boat, Samos On 16 June 2025, the Criminal Court of Samos acquitted a young Sudanese asylum seeker of all charges. He had arrived on the Greek island of Samos on 2… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
🇬🇷 GreeceSyrian asylum seeker – steering a boat, Samos (2nd instance) On 18 June 2025, the Criminal Court of Samos of second instance acquitted a Syrian asylum seeker who had been convicted at first instance. He had arri… label Self-rescue by migrantssailing Seacheck_circle Closed (acquitted)expand_more
