The newspaper “Die Tageszeitung” (TAZ), which appears in Berlin, writes on Tuesday (07/12/2022) that people who help refugees to reach refugees increasingly have to expect criminal proceedings. From January 2021 to March 2022, such proceedings were initiated in EU countries against 89 people, according to a study conducted by the NGO Picum at the request of the Green party in the European Parliament.
Among the people who were arrested by the police for helping, there were also 13 activists from the Polish-Belarusian border.
“Who helps, goes to jail: 13 activists, some of whom provided life-saving aid in the border zone, were arrested by the Polish police. They were accused of ‘assisting in illegal migration’. They face eight years in prison. With the exception of one Italian citizen, all of them have been released from custody for the time being, but the proceedings against them are still pending, “TAZ writes.”
The newspaper recalls that since September 2021, around 30 refugees have died in the border region with “partially mysterious circumstances”, often from hypothermia and exhaustion.
Penalty for helping. “Investigation against activists, charges for aid in crossing the border”
“In the vast majority of cases (activists) provided refugees with food, shelter, medical assistance or means of transport, assisted them in applying for asylum or rescued them from danger at sea. , residence or smuggling of migrants. Not always convictions, many cases are still pending “- we read.
TAZ notes that the final number of activists facing legal problems is unknown – the Picum organization has not been able to cover all the cases.
As the journal commentator Christian Jakob writes, “a clear trend emerges from the picture presented in the study: the isolation of Europe is to be accompanied by the intimidation of those who practice solidarity.” Quoted by the newspaper, Greens MEP Erik Marquardt is of the opinion that “this is to discourage and ensure that the flight to Europe will be life-threatening and will (take place) in inhumane conditions.” Marquardt demands better protection for activists. According to him, if activists take over tasks for which states do not feel responsible, they should receive funding from the state.
“Criminalization of Refugees”. Allegations of smuggling people across the border
“TAZ” draws attention to another problem: the judiciary treats refugees who are accused of smuggling people across the border much more severely than activists. Especially in Greece, cases of high penalties for refugees have recently multiplied.
“This issue remains even more unknown than the problem of punishing activists,” the journal reads.
Source: Gazeta
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