For the past six years, Greek authorities have tried to silence me -Tommy Olsen,  founder @ABoatReport

Tommy Olsen, the founder of Aegean Boat Report has accused the Greek authorities of trying to silence him in the last six years for exposing their human rights violations of people on the move.

Olsen was arrested last week by Norwegian Police  in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Greece.  

Olsen said: “For the last six years, Greek authorities have tried to silence me. Years of smear campaigns in parts of the Greek press, spyware, arrests and harassment of people who stood by my side, isolating tactics, numerous baseless criminal investigations, an arrest warrant — and now a European Arrest Warrant — all with one purpose: to silence the voice of one man who insists on telling the truth.

“Every day Aegean Boat Report documents serious humanitarian abuses as they unfold along the route known as the Aegean Sea—from Turkey to Greece. Greek authorities want to silence me and have therefore fabricated a story where they accuse me of cooperating with people smugglers. What I ask of you now is to speak out. We cannot allow them to continue violating the principle of non-refoulement, fabricating smuggling charges, and then permit Norwegian citizens to be handed over to a police force that clearly does not want its human rights violations exposed. We must report human rights violations without fear of arrest.”

With nearly 90,000 followers from across the world, the @ABoatReport founder said  it is time for all of those who have a voice to speak out now.

“If Aegean Boat Report disappears, it won’t be because the need disappeared. It will be because pressure and lack of support made it impossible to continue. The work continues — but it cannot continue without you. I cannot continue without you. Aegean Boat Report is now asking for your help. Share this post. Speak out! Write and send emails to those who can make a change. Make sure all our voices are heard. And more than ever we need your continous donation to keep our work going.”