Sarah, Seán and Nassos face 25 years in prison.

In 2018, Sarah, Seán and Nassos spent more than 100 days in a high-security jail and have been charged with people smuggling, being part of a criminal organisation, espionage and money laundering. Human Rights Watch have described these baseless charges as the 'criminalisation of saving lives'. 

On 18 November 2021, after three long years of uncertainty, there will finally be a trial. A lack of evidence and a series of procedural mistakes and violations indicate that this trial will not only be politically motivated but also unfair. 

The charges against Sarah, Seán and Nassos are serious and increasingly common. The Greek Minister of Migration has used these baseless accusations as a justification for imposing new laws that severely restrict the work and rights of organisations supporting refugees in Greece. Different European and United Nation experts and institutions have warned that these restrictions on the legitimate work of organisations infringe on fundamental rights and basic principles of democracy. At the same time, Greek authorities have introduced laws that could lead to criminal sanctions and heavy fines for those trying to save lives at sea.

"saving lives is not a crime, it is not heroic, it is simply necessary"