Urgent Action: Stand with Seán Binder
Seán’s Personal Letter:
Dear Supporter,
You may remember supporting me during Amnesty’s 2019 Write for Rights campaign.
Since 2018, I have been facing unfair prosecution in Greece after volunteering as a trained rescuer helping refugees and migrants at sea on Lesvos. My trial is set to begin in December, and I risk facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. I am writing to ask for your support once more.
What I was doing in Greece was helping people in need. But in a dangerous and cruel attempt to deter people from seeking safety in Europe, authorities have been cracking down not just on refugees and migrants, but also on those who help them. This pattern of silencing humanitarian support is how I have found myself facing prosecution.
I am wrongly accused of serious crimes, including smuggling, money laundering, and membership of a criminal organization.
When I was first arrested in 2018, it was devastating to realize I was in prison for nothing more than trying to assist people who were at risk. Even more frightening was seeing other humanitarians across Europe facing similar intimidation and harassment, indicating that my case is part of a wider pattern of states criminalising humanitarian work.
Solidarity is on trial in Greece. These tactics are being used to control migration and have had a chilling effect on civil society. In this environment of increasing hostility, some NGOs supporting refugees and migrants have withdrawn their operations from Lesvos.
Humanitarian workers like me should not be prosecuted for saving lives. As European states push to restrict access to asylum, and violence at borders is prevalent, humanitarian work should be protected and enabled, not sanctioned and stigmatised. Helping people in need is simply the human thing to do.
Please support me by demanding that Greece endorses humanity and drops the charges. Humanity must win.
Having your support makes it feel like I won’t be alone in that courtroom, which means so much. Thank you for standing in solidarity with me and for defending human rights.
With gratitude,
Seán Binder
How You Can Help:
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Donate Now – Your support will help ensure Seán’s legal defence continues and will contribute to Amnesty’s ongoing campaign to protect human rights worldwide.
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Raise Awareness – Share Seán’s story. Use the hashtag #StandWithSeán and encourage others to get involved.
Seán’s trial is not just about him. It’s about the future of humanitarian work. If Seán is convicted, it could set a dangerous precedent that criminalises life-saving assistance to people in need, making it harder for others to help refugees and migrants without fear of prosecution.
We cannot let that happen.
Thank you for standing with Seán and defending human rights. Together, we can make a difference.