CAMPAIGN
On 25.08.2021, Homayoun Sabetara, a migrant fleeing Iran, was arrested by Greek authorities in Thessaloniki after having driven a vehicle across the Turkish-Greek border. Following an unfair trial in a language foreign to his own, on 26.09.2022, Mr. Sabetara was then sentenced to an 18-year prison sentence for alleged smuggling. Mr. Sabetara was reportedly coerced into piloting the vehicle from their departing point near the Turkish-Greek border, having to transport seven additional persons. Since his arrest in August 2021 he has been held in prison in Greece.
At the time of his escape from Iran, Homayoun Sabetara had no legal and safe passage available to travel to Germany, where his children currently reside. The appeal trial will take place on April 22, 2024. This will decide Homayoun's future freedom.
We demand the acquittal of Homayoun Sabetara, as well as all migrants who are criminalized for 'smuggling'
CURRENT NEWS
Another postponement of Homayoun Sabetara's appeal trial: after 576 days of waiting, his appeal hearing started today at the court in Thessaloniki. As in the first trial, the sole prosecution witness was absent.
Homayoun Sabetara was arrested in August 2021 after Greek authorities stopped the car he was driving in Thessaloniki. He was subsequently charged with "smuggling" and sentenced to 18-years in prison. His conviction was based primarily on the written testimony of a witness who never appeared in court. Homayoun has been held in prison ever since.
During today’s hearings, one of Homayoun's lawyers, Harris Ladis, raised the argument that the Court failed to cross-examine the prosecution witness, in violation of article 6 of the ECtHR. The witness was absent and hence never questioned.
On these grounds Homayoun's legal team petitioned the Court to not read the statement in question. However, the court decided to instead postpone the trial to 24/09/24, in order to have time to locate the witness.
Mahtab Sabetara, Homayoun's daughter is devasted: "My father’s lawyers requested his release on terms due to his state of health. However, the court turned down the request within a few minutes.”
Homayoun’s lawyer Dimitris Choulis also commented on the Court’s decision: "The decision today is a message from the judicial system: if you fight back we will punish you. Although we are used to this mental torture from previous cases, it always surprises me when the judges are so harsh with vulnerable people.”
Indeed, this is not an unprecedented outcome. Homayoun Sabetara’s case consitutes a blatant example of the systematic criminalisation of people on the move by Greek authorities. Currently, there are over 2,000 people imprisoned in Greece who have been convicted as alleged smugglers on questionable evidence, people whose right to a fair trial has been violated.
Nonetheless, confronting these violations often leads to prolonged postponements - as the case of Homayoun confirms. “Trapped between accepting unjust sentences or enduring prolonged incarceration, justice is not an option for these people”, states Julia Winkler of borderline-europe.
Homayoun’s daughter, Mahtab Sabetara, and her team of supporters have been committed to drawing international attention to this injustice through the #FreeHomayoun campaign. Addressing supporters and the public, Mahtab Sabetara emphasizes: "We will continue to fight against the criminalisation of migration, and we will turn today’s tears to strength and determination."
👇 PRESS CONFERENCE OF 19.04.2024 (Part 1) 👇