MORIA35 UPDATES

DEportation of 7 Cancelled, 2 Detainees released

10 May 2018

The scheduled deportation of 7 of the Moria 35 has been cancelled to allow consideration of their subsequent application for international protection. This comes as a result of a coordinated effort by Legal Centre Lesvos, Lesvos Solidarity – Pikpa, and HIAS lawyers, the rapid mobilization of the #freethemoria35 campaign, and intervention by both UNHCR and the Ombudsman’s office. In another small victory in our fight to free the Moria 35, two additional detainees were released yesterday. This means that 24 of the 35 remain imprisoned, despite the lack of legal grounds to detain them. Our work to free the 35 continues.

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URGENT ACTION NEEDED – 7 face imminent deportation

7 May 2018

Seven of the #Moria35 face deportation on Thursday 10 May 2018. In a process fraught with procedural violations, they have had their applications for asylum rejected. After over a year of dehumanizing treatment, from Moria Camp, to the viscous attack by the police, followed by nine months of unjust imprisonment, they now face being sent to Turkish prison, and likely deportation to the countries they fled. Furthermore, all are eligible for humanitarian protection in Greece as victims or witnesses of a serious crime. Three have themselves filed complaints against the police for the attack against them, and there is an open ongoing investigation initiated by the public prosecutor against the police, for which all seven are important witnesses. Their deportation will not only violate their rights to due process, but will ensure the continued impunity of the police in their policies of violent repression in the Greek hotspots. To stop the deportation contact the Lesvos Police at +30 22510 37721, 58800, 58803 and the Regional Asylum Office at +30 2251032323 or pga.lesvou@asylo.gov.gr.

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Την Πέμπτη οι 7 από τους #Moria35 είναι για απέλαση ενώ οι αιτήσεις τους για άσυλο έχουν απορριφθεί. Ένα χρόνο απάνθρωπης αντιμετώπισης στον καταυλισμό της Μόριας, τη βίαιη αστυνομική επίθεση και την απαράδεκτη 9-μηνη φυλάκισή τους, τώρα θα σταλούν σε τουρκική φυλακή και ενδεχόμενη απέλαση πίσω στις χώρες απ’όπου το έσκασαν. Όλοι τους έχουν το δικαίωμα ανθρωπιστικής προστασίας στην Ελλάδα ως θύματα ή μάρτυρες σοβαρών εγκλημάτων. Οι τρεις έχουν καταγγείλει την αστυνομία για τις επιθέσεις εναντίον τους και ο Εισαγγελέας κάνει έρευνες κατά της αστυνομίας στις οποίες και οι εφτά είναι μάρτυρες. Οι απελάσεις τους όχι μόνο παραβιάζουν το δικαίωμα δίκαιων διαδικασιών αλλά έτσι διασφαλίζεται και η συνέχιση της αστυνομικής αυθαιρεσίας και της πολιτικής βίαιης καταπίεσης στους ελληνικούς προσφυγικούς καταυλισμούς. Για να σταματήσουν οι απελάσεις επικοινωνούμε με την Αστυνομία Λέσβου 22510 37721, 58800, 58803 και την Περιφερειακή Υπηρεσία Ασύλου 2251032323 ή pga.lesvou@asylo.gov.gr #freethemoria35 #lesvos #refugeesgr

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26 of the 35 remain detained

5 May 2018

Over one week since the Mixed July Court in Chios found 32 of the 35 accused guilty and issued a suspended sentence – meaning that all 32 should be released from prison – 26 of the Moria 35 remain detained. 21 are being detained inside Moria Camp, and 5 in Petrou Ralli detention centre in Athens. Included among the 26 is one individual who was found not guilty.

After nine months of unjust imprisonment, they now must face immigration authorities. All 26 detained are asylum seekers, and they are being held in “administrative” detention purportedly to assess their legal status in Greece – a practice we have long denounced as a violation of the procedural requirements of EU and Greek law, which explicitly prohibit holding people in detention for the sole reason that they have applied for international protection. While many have already had their claims for international protection rejected, they have the right to appeal, and authorities have not individually assessed, nor provided comprehensive reasoning to detain these 26 individuals while their asylum applications and appeals are pending, as required by law. For the few who have been released from prison, they have been returned to the inhumane and overcrowded conditions of Moria camp.

The Chios Court’s order for the release of the Moria 35 is a bittersweet victory, as the State’s hostile policies which led to the violent arrest and imprisonment of the 35 continue to marginalize them upon their release. In an immigration system which discounts environmental and economic refugees, and ignores Europe’s colonial past and economic imperialism in the countries from which individuals are fleeing, many could have their cases rejected and face deportation. Their perceived ‘freedom’ has been short-lived, and the fight to free the Moria 35 is not over.