Borderline Europe seeks freedom for boy facing 4,670yrs in prison for smuggling

Borderline Europe has demanded that all charges against 16-year-old M. Elfallah be dropped.

M. Elfallah is charged with smuggling and faces 4670 years in prison.

His father had been sentenced to 280 years in prison for “smuggling because he helped steer the boat.”

A statement by Borderline Europe reads:

Nearly a year ago, H. Elfallah, a fisherman from Egypt, was sentenced to 280 years for #smuggling bc he helped steer the boat. Now, on 28 Feb, his minor son, the now 16-year-old M. Elfallah, will stand trial for the same accusations in the juvenile court in Crete, #Greece.

16-year-old M. Elfallah left #Libya on a large fishing boat with his father and more than 450 other people in November 2022 in an attempt to reach Europe. As the father did not have enough money for the journey for himself and his son, 2/7

he offered his experience as a fisherman as payment and agreed to take on some tasks on board for a lower price. As a result, the Greek authorities arrested both father and son on arrival as the smugglers. 3/7

Father and son have been separated ever since. His father was immediately placed into pre-trial detention and sentenced to 280 years last March. M. was placed in a home for minors and has been completely alone ever since, awaiting trial. 4/7

On 28 February, he will too stand trial for “smuggling 467 people to Greece”. Just like his father, he is not only charged with smuggling, but also with the aggravating circumstance of “having acted for profit” – because they payed a reduced price for the trip. 5/7

Like this, the law is not only punishing those it claims to protect, but in fact the most marginalied amongst them.
The story of 16-year-old M. Elfallah and his father clearly shows: Europe’s purported “fight against criminal smugglers” primarily targets refugees themselves. 6/7

M. Elfallah needs our full support! Spread his story and demand his acquittal in the trial on 28.2.24! 7/7 #DropTheCharges