Migrant Echoes
  • Little Big Voices
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact
  • Little Big Voices
  • Podcasts
  • About
  • Contact

Charities, volunteers and tourists face prosecution for saving refugees from drowning

4/2/2016

0 Comments

 
News circulated this week that the EU is writing up legislation meaning that people who help to rescue drowning refugees will face prosecution, criminalising them as smugglers. 

The news comes from Statewatch, who say that interior EU ministers were drawing up the plans to deter the flow of refugees trying to make the life threatening journey across the Mediterranean, many aiming to reach the shores of Greek Islands such as Lesvos, and southern Italy.

The Director of Positive Action in Housing, the refugee homelessness charity, Robina Qureshi, said in response in a recent statement: “If the EU plans to criminalise charities and volunteers who help refugees arriving on Lesvos or any of the Greek islands, does this mean that are also going to criminalise and arrest the UNHCR, OXFAM, Doctors of the World, Doctors of the World, International Rescue, the Spanish Lifeguards, the Greek Lifeguards, Ai Weiwei, Eric Kempson, Philippa Kempson, Ken Loach, Susan Sarandon, Jeremy Corbyn, Trade unions, politicians, old age pensioners, students and medics as well? So they are going to let refugees drown and imprison the world’s humanitarians? And how will the history books record it. The fact is we have a growing movement of charities and volunteers from across the world who are in danger of being criminalised for doing the right thing and resisting the EU's de facto genocide of refugees. We are making a significant difference on the island by supplying funds for lifeguards, medical facilities and shelter, as well as doctors, volunteers, clothing and medical supplies. We need voices from across the world to speak out and challenge the EU’s secret plans. We are not going to stop helping.” [1]

Other public figures and commentators responded to the news with outrage at the notion of criminalising aid workers, volunteers and well-meaning public trying to assist refugees who have just overcome a harrowing, incredibly dangerous journey from the shores of North Africa, many calling for opposition to the plans and urging European citizens to continue to help vulnerable people who's lives are at risk.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Arts
    Censorship
    Comedy
    Detention
    EU
    Events
    Greece
    Hate Crime
    International
    Interviews
    Iran
    Islamophobia
    Journalism
    Manchester
    Migration Policy
    Music
    National
    North West
    Petitions
    Podcasts
    Racism
    Refugee & Asylum
    Satire
    Sexism
    Sport
    Stop35K
    Syria
    Turkey
    Women's Day

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.