Criminalising Solidarity: When Helping Refugees Becomes a Risk

The text describes a shift in Greece, specifically on Lesbos, where initial support for refugees has been replaced by efforts to criminalise volunteers. It details how the Greek government and Frontex have used legal technicalities—such as building permits and immigration laws—to arrest or fine those providing medical aid, shelter, and rescue services. The author contends that deterring volunteers will lead to more deaths and that authorities should instead focus on their legal obligation to provide asylum.

• On the island of Lesbos, local business people and individuals have pressured the Municipal Council to ban aid activities in settled areas and restrict the number of volunteer groups to protect the tourism industry's image.
• Greek authorities and Frontex have begun using legal mechanisms to obstruct humanitarian aid, including issuing fines for emergency shelters built without permission and arresting volunteer lifeguards for aiding illegal immigration.
• The author asserts that the Greek legal system can be used to criminalise a wide range of basic humanitarian acts, including cooking in public, providing medical care without local licenses, and donating supplies without receipts.
• The document argues that the Greek and European Union authorities are failing their legal obligations to offer asylum to war refugees and that deterring volunteers will likely result in increased deaths and a return to chaotic conditions.

APA

Bakas, K. K. M. (2016). Criminalising Solidarity: When Helping Refugees Becomes a Risk. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/criminalising-solidarity-when-helping-refugees-becomes-a-risk/

Chicago

Bakas, Karolina Krist, Michael. Criminalising Solidarity: When Helping Refugees Becomes a Risk. Green European Journal, 2016. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/criminalising-solidarity-when-helping-refugees-becomes-a-risk/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bakas |first1=Karolina Krist, Michael |title=Criminalising Solidarity: When Helping Refugees Becomes a Risk |publisher=Green European Journal |date=15 February 2016 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/criminalising-solidarity-when-helping-refugees-becomes-a-risk/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bakas2016criminalising, author = {Bakas, Karolina Krist, Michael}, title = {{Criminalising Solidarity: When Helping Refugees Becomes a Risk}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2016}, month = feb, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/criminalising-solidarity-when-helping-refugees-becomes-a-risk/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }