Researcher condemns ‘criminalisation of solidarity’ in criticism of European border policies

A PhD researcher in plant bioprotection, Jihed, has criticised what he described as the “criminalisation of solidarity” with migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe, accusing far-right groups of presenting long-documented humanitarian activities as newly uncovered information.

In a series of posts on X, Jihed said solidarity efforts involving people stranded or at risk of drowning at Europe’s borders had been openly documented for more than 12 years.

“12 years of openly documented solidarity with people left to drown at Europe borders and far right suddenly presents it as a discovery,” he wrote.

According to him, attempts to portray such activities as suspicious investigations amount to a campaign against organisations and individuals assisting migrants.

“This is not journalism. It is the #criminalisation of solidarity dressed up as investigation,” he said, adding that Alarm Phone, a migrant emergency support network, had operated publicly and transparently.

Jihed called for greater scrutiny of European migration policies and border enforcement rather than investigations targeting solidarity networks.

“Investigate the system that lets children drown, forces people back into detention, works with abusive militias and turns borders into a business,” he wrote.

In another post, he criticised the continued interception of migrants in Libya, arguing that the system had not ended but had shifted its operations further inland.

He cited an announcement by Libya’s so-called “anti-illegal migration” agency that 15 Bangladeshi nationals had been detained in the Al Baydha area, near the coasts of Al Hamama and Al Haniya, before they could depart for Europe.

“The #Libya interception machine didn’t stop. It just moved onto land,” Jihed wrote.

He described the reported detention as part of the same broader border regime, arguing that the measures continue to expose migrants to repression and detention while preventing them from attempting the journey to Europe.

The posts come amid continuing debate over Europe’s migration policies, the role of Libyan authorities in intercepting migrants and the treatment of organisations and individuals involved in search-and-rescue and migrant solidarity activities.

Jihed’s comments represent his views and allegations concerning European and Libyan migration policies.