Seebrüecke demands acquittal of Homayoun Sabetara, other migrants

Seebrüecke International has demanded the acquittal of Homayoun Sabetara and all migrants “criminalised for so-called ‘smuggling’.”

Seebrüecke said Homayoun Sabetara, who fled Iran, has been in detention in Greece for 700 days in undignified conditions awaiting his appeal trial after being sentenced to 18 years in prison in September 2022 in an unfair trial.

“He has been in prison since his arrest in August 2021, accused of smuggling people into Greece by driving a car in which other people were fleeing.

“This sentence is an example of a widespread practice in Greece of criminalising people who, like Homayoun himself, are on the move. At least 2,700 people in Greece have been sentenced to long prison terms for allegedly ‘smuggling’ people.”

Seebrüecke added that the appeal trial was finally due to take place at the end of April this year. However, as one witness was not present, the rest of the trial was postponed until the end of September. Homayoun’s defence filed an application to suspend his detention until the rest of the trial.

“Unfortunately, this was rejected. Homayoun’s case shows how people on the move are criminalised instead of being offered protection. Due to the lack of safe flight routes, people in search of a better life have no choice but to take dangerous and irregular routes.”

Together with the @freehomayoun initiative, Seebrüecke demanded the acquittal of Homayoun Sabetara and all migrants criminalised for so-called ‘smuggling’.