{"id":8449,"date":"2018-10-29T16:43:14","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T16:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk\/?p=8449"},"modified":"2018-10-31T13:11:14","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T13:11:14","slug":"a-group-of-37-meps-call-for-the-release-of-humanitarian-workers-detained-in-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jeanlambertmep.org.uk\/2018\/10\/29\/a-group-of-37-meps-call-for-the-release-of-humanitarian-workers-detained-in-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"A group of 37 MEPs sign letter calling for the release of humanitarian workers detained in Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"

29 October 2018<\/p>\n

Two humanitarian workers, Sean Binder and Sarah Mardini, have been detained in Lesvos since 21 August 2018 on human trafficking charges. When arrested, both were volunteering with Emergency Centre Response International (ERCI), a Greek NGO that runs a search and rescue programme in the waters around the island.<\/p>\n

A group of 37 cross-party MEPs, including Jean Lambert, have written an open letter stressing that humanitarian workers should never be treated as criminals. They call on the Greek authorities to take any appropriate action in order to free Sean and Sarah until their trial.<\/p>\n

Read the full letter and list of signatories below, or click here for a PDF version<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On 21st August 2018, Greek Police arrested humanitarian workers Mr S\u00e9an
\nBinder and Ms Sarah Mardini on several charges, including that of human
\ntrafficking. They were subsequently taken into Mytilene police station,
\nquestioned, and detained on orders by the Magistrate of Mytilene and remain in
\ndetention since then.<\/p>\n

When arrested, both S\u00e9an and Sarah were volunteering with Emergency
\nResponse Centre International (ERCI), a Greek non-profit humanitarian
\norganisation that runs a search and rescue programme in Lesvos, as well as a
\nmedical clinic offering primary care in the Moria refugee camp. The organisation
\nwas well known, was cooperating with the relevant Greek Authorities and had
\ntheir authorisation, both on the search and rescue operations as well as inside the
\nMoria refugee camp.<\/p>\n

We, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, wish not to interfere
\nin the substance of the judicial proceedings and we have absolute confidence in
\nintegrity and impartiality of the Greek judicial system, as proven with the recent
\ncase of the Spanish coastguards.<\/p>\n

However, we strongly believe that humanitarian workers do not pose a threat to
\nsociety and should not be treated as criminals. We join our voices to those of their
\nfamilies, of the Universities where Sarah and S\u00e9an are studying, of other
\nhumanitarian NGOs and organisations and of all the people around Europe who
\nappreciate the efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need or in
\ndistress at sea.<\/p>\n

We call, therefore, for any appropriate action to be taken by the relevant Greek
\nAuthorities in order to free S\u00e9an and Sarah until their trial. To this end, we would
\nurge the relevant authorities of the UNHCR in Greece to contribute by providing
\nto the Greek Justice all the necessary elements for them to properly conduct their
\nwork.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Guy Verhofstadt (Chair of the ALDE group)
\nSka Keller (Co-Chair of the GREENS\/EFA group)
\nGabi Zimmer (Chair of the GUE\/NGL group)
\nClaude Moraes (Chair of the LIBE Committee)
\nBirgit Sippel (Coordinator for the S&D group in LIBE Committee)
\nCornelia Ernst (Coordinator for the GUE\/NGL group in LIBE Committee)
\nMartina Anderson (GUE\/NGL)
\nMalin Bj\u00f6rk (GUE\/NGL)
\nLynn Boylan (GUE\/NGL)
\nKlaus Buchner (GREENS\/EFA)
\nMatt Carthy (GUE\/NGL)
\nTanja Fajon (Vice-Chair of the S&D group)
\nAna Gomes (S&D)
\nSophie In\u2019t Veld (Vice-Chair of the ALDE group)
\nBarbara Lochbihler (GREENS\/EFA)
\nJuan Fernando L\u00f3pez Aguilar (S&D)
\nSabine L\u00f6sing (GUE\/NGL)
\nMartina Michels (GUE\/NGL)
\nStelios Kouloglou (GUE\/NGL)
\nMerja Kyll\u00f6nen (GUE\/NGL)
\nLiadh NiRiada (GUE\/NGL)
\nDimitrios Papadimoulis (GUE\/NGL, EP Vice President)
\nMorten Helveg Petersen (ALDE)
\nMaria Heubuch (GREENS\/EFA)
\nChristine Revault d’Allonnes-Bonnefoy (S&D)
\nJens Rohde (ALDE)
\nMartin Schirdewan (GUE\/NGL)
\nElly Schlein (S&D)
\nHelmut Scholz (GUE\/NGL)
\nLidia Senra Rodr\u00edguez (GUE\/NGL)
\nBarbara Spinelli (GUE\/NGL)
\nBart Staes (GREENS\/EFA)
\nMiguel Urban Crespo (GUE\/NGL)
\nErnest Urtasun (GREENS\/EFA)
\nMarie-Christine Vergiat (GUE\/NGL)
\nJulie Ward (S&D)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

29 October 2018 Two humanitarian workers, Sean Binder and Sarah Mardini, have been detained in Lesvos since 21 August 2018 on human trafficking charges. When arrested, both were volunteering with Emergency Centre Response International (ERCI), a Greek NGO that runs a search and rescue programme in the waters around the island. A group of 37 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5680,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[85],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n