On January 15, 2026, the Misdemeanours Court of Mytilene acquitted Seán Binder and 23 other rescue volunteers after a lengthy legal battle that began with their arrests in 2018 on multiple charges related to humanitarian activities in Lesbos. The court found that their actions were humanitarian rather than criminal, highlighting the vulnerabilities in Europe’s migration policy, which often criminalizes aid workers. This case reflects broader issues within migration governance, illustrating how legal frameworks can impose uncertainty and fear instead of addressing structural inequities. Despite the acquittal, the underlying policies that criminalize humanitarian aid remain in place, underscoring the need for reform in migration governance.
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