Statement on trial of humanitarian workers in Lesvos

On Thursday 4 December 2025, 24 humanitarian workers began a 20 day trial in Lesvos as a result of work they carried out in 2018 to rescue shipwrecked migrants. The majority of the co-accused have lived experience of irregular migration. They face criminal charges including “people smuggling,” “money laundering” and “membership of a criminal organisation”. The charges of people smuggling relate to work searching for and rescuing adults and children in peril at sea. The charges of money laundering relate to a web page raising money for the essential living needs of destitute people on the island.

 If found guilty they could face up to 20 years in prison.

Among the 24 is Seán Binder who grew up in Ireland, but studied, was called to the Bar, and completed a criminal pupillage in London. Seán is one of our community of lawyers.

In 2018, after finishing his undergraduate degree at the London School of Economics, Seán travelled to Lesvos to volunteer with a Greek NGO, Emergency Response Center International (ERCI). He and his co-volunteer Sara Mardini were arrested while scanning the sea for shipwrecks.  They were released before later being re-arrested, charged and held in pre-trial detention for 106 days.

International human rights groups have called on the Greek authorities to drop the charges as they are unsupported by the evidence and are an abuse of process. We extend solidarity to Seán our colleague and to his co-accused and we support the calls to drop the charges.