People who save lives should not be criminalized

Humanity on trial: the case of search-and-rescue volunteer Seán Binder

On 4 December 2025, Seán Binder will stand trial in Lesvos, Greece, for his work as a volunteer rescuer helping people in distress and at risk of drowning at sea. Alongside 23 other defendants, he faces criminal charges including membership of a criminal organization, money laundering, and smuggling and risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted. I first met Seán in 2019. A bright, articulate Irish activist in his twenties, he was our guest at …

People who save lives should not be criminalized

Wies De Graeve is the executive director of Amnesty International Belgium’s Flemish branch. Tomorrow, Seán Binder will stand trial before the Mytilene Court of Appeals in Lesvos, Greece for his work as a volunteer rescuer, helping those in distress and at risk of drowning at sea. Alongside 23 other defendants, he faces criminal charges including membership in a criminal organization, money laundering and smuggling, with the risk of up to 20 year…

Seán Binder Faces Trial – And Why His Case Matters for All of Europe

Seán Binder and Sarah Mardini stand trial in Lesvos for their lifesaving rescue work. MPG highlights their case as a major example of the criminalisation of solidarity and calls for charges to be dropped and EU law to protect humanitarian action.