News | Mare Liberum

The human rights activists of Mare Liberum are starting a new project, this time on land. The focus of the new project continues to be the observation of human rights violations and border violence.

Why Turkey is not a “Safe Third Country”

Anstehende Veranstaltungen, Featured

Illegal deportations, lack of protection, and precarious living conditions are commonplace for people on the move in Turkey. Nevertheless, Greek authorities classify Turkey as a safe country for protection seekers. Why Turkey is not safe.

Fight For Solidarity! Stop the criminalization of flight and sea rescue

Hundreds of volunteers are supporting people who fled the war in Ukraine everyday at Berlin central station. German authorities are celebrating this commitment and are content with this. Meanwhile, on March 21, 2022, yet another trial against civilian sea rescuers starts.

Scandalous case of criminalisation of refugees: Trial against #Samos2 set for 18 May

N., ein 25-jähriger afghanischer Mann, ist der erste Asylsuchende, der in Europa für den Tod seines Kindes angeklagt wird, dabei war alles, was er wollte, sein Kind in Sicherheit zu bringen.

Crack down on solidarity: Forced to develop new operations

Im Moment können wir unsere Monitoringmission auf See so nicht fortsetzen. Das bedeutet, dass wir einen Schritt zurücktreten werden, um eine neue Herangehensweise an unsere Arbeit zu entwickeln, damit wir weiterhin gegen illegal Pushbacks in der Ägäis kämpfen können.

CommemorAction, 30th October 2021, Lesvos

Today, we are here to commemorate those who lost their lives at sea as a result of the European border regime.

Mare Liberum is back at Sea

We are once again returning to Europe‘s maritime border in the Aegean Sea: Our crew is currently on their way to the north of Lesvos, where most pushbacks happened in the past.

Pushback Quarterly Q3 2021

Pushbacks in the Aegean increasing dramatically. Despite repetitive documentation of torture and law-breaking, pushbacks in the Aegean Sea don't only continue to happen but accelerate in violence and quantity.

August showed a horrific escalation of border violence: Highest number of pushbacks in 1.5 years!

In August we counted 63(!) pushbacks with 1477 people being illegally pushed back by the Greek authorities.

Attempted murder: How the Hellenic Coast guard demonstrates their disregard for human lives

Dass es an der griechisch-türkischen Seegrenze täglich und systematisch zu Grenzgewalt und Menschenrechtsverletzungen kommt, ist schon seit Monaten keine Neuigkeit mehr.

The German Bundeswehr is again on its way to the Aegean to support the NATO mission - and illegal human rights violations against refugees

Last week, the German military vessel F216 ’Schleswig Holstein’ left Germany to join the NATO mission in the Aegean Sea.

Sailing in the Aegean

Early in July, six activists came together to take the 'Mare Liberum 2' on a test mission in the Aegean Sea.

“Who is giving these orders?” – the events of a deadly shipwreck

Early in the morning on July 30th a boat capsized northeast of Lesvos at the Greek-Turkish border. Aboard had been 13 people trying to reach Europe.

Indictment regarding the violations by EU politicians, its security forces and FRONTEX to the 1951 Refugee Convention

Case of human rights advocates and inhabitants of the European Union v. EU Politicians, its security forces and Frontex.

Mare Liberum

I just want to get out of this island

Hello, I'm Shaker, I'm from Syria, I'm 23 years old. I left Syria because of the war and decided to come to Europe to live a better life.

Pushback Quarterly April - June 2021: Illegal Pushbacks in the Aegean increase and arrivals are on a historic low

From April to the end of June 2021, Mare Liberum counted 119 pushbacks in the Aegean Sea, in which at least 3289 people were illegally prevented from reaching the EU. At the same time, it is clear that the practice of systematic pushbacks continues to ensure that very few people reach the Greek islands.

Frontex as the backbone of fundamental rights violations in the Aegean Sea

Human rights violations at the Greek EU external border and especially the illegal expulsion of people on the move is a daily practice in the Aegean.

“We need to get the kids out of this hell”

Moria 2.0: This is the largest camp in Europe. Nobody knows what's going on. These people inside are human beings and they want is safety – this is what they hope for. They should be cared for – especially the children that are there.

“230 years in prison” – The systematic criminalisation and imprisonment of people on the move in Greece

A person is sentenced to 52 years of prison for allegedly steering a boat from Turkish shores to Greek territory, despite testimonies that contradict this. Another man is sentenced to 146 years for manoeuvring a boat in distress safely ashore, saving the lives of 33 people.

Police brutality in the quarantine section of Moria 2.0

“I don’t do anything wrong. Just that I asked a question. And he [the police officer] starts kicking me. He said I talk too much.” This case of police brutality against a young woman from West Africa took place in the quarantine section of Moria 2.0.

“You are criminals, because you want to kill us” – A pushback testimony

The attempt of 31 people to reach Europe turned into a 5-day odyssey, in which they were severely beaten, abducted from land, their families violently separated, exposed to psychological terror and torture-like methods, shot at with guns and tear gas, and abandoned at sea.

Mass pushback near Lesvos: What happend on April 2nd?

The mass pushback of more than 230 refugees in the night of April 2nd/3rd is a prime example how pushbacks and the lives of migrants are being instrumentalized in the geopolitical conflict between Turkey and Greece.

Pushbacks Quarterly: Continuous pushbacks and escalation in violence in the Aegean

In the first three months of 2021, we have already counted 55 pushbacks cases in the Aegean. 1,479 people tried to cross the sea to Greece and were illegally and in many cases brutally rejected. At the same time, 820 people arrived on the Aegean islands.

Suspected murder by pushback

Last week, probably one of the most brutal pushbacks ever documented took place in the Aegean.

A shameful anniversary: 5 years of Europe’s deadly deal with Turkey

On 28th of February 2020, Turkish President Erdogan announced that the border with the EU would be opened. The one-sided opening of the border took place in response to the intensifying civil war in Syria and was seen as a breach of the EU-Turkey-Deal adopted in 2016.

Alarming start to 2021 - Brutal pushback in the Aegean almost every other day

Last year, we recorded 321 pushback cases in the Aegean Sea. This illegal and degrading practice of abandoning refugees at sea has become standard practice by Greek and European authorities in 2020.

Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants: pushback practices
and their impact on the human rights of migrants by Mare Liberum

Arian Henning / Mare Liberum

Submission-Mare-Liberumdownload

Greece: De facto suspension of human rights for refugees in the Aegean

A new report by the organization Mare Liberum shows an unprecedented escalation of human rights violations in the Aegean during the last year, both at sea and on land.

“This is a message from a refugee, who does not have human rights” – a report from inside Moria 2.0

The following text was written by a resident of the camp Moria 2.0 on Lesvos, who chose the alias A&H and was sent to us via messenger.

Lipa is the cruel consequence of the European border politics

Appeal from Balkanbrücke, Seebrücke und Pro Asyl.

Poster Campaign

In order to draw attention to the unbearable conditions on the Greek islands for refugees, the increasingly brutal execution of pushbacks and the resulting human rights violations in the Aegean, we are launching a poster campaign.

Moria 2: Censorship, fear and the loss of freedom of press

Over Christmas, the public focus shifted once again to Europe's largest refugee camp, Moria 2, also known as Kara Tepe.

Pushback from Lesvos: A testimony

We spoke to people who were among the group of 24 refugees that landed at Katia in the south of Lesvos at around 1 a.m. on 10 November.

Germany: On the frontline of pushbacks

Over the past year, pushbacks have become a reality in the Aegean that is as common as it is inhumane.

Frontex: The European institutionalization of pushbacks

It is no secret that refugees are illegally pushed back at Europe's external borders. What Europe calls 'border protection' leads to human rights being disregarded and people being put in mortal danger—if not actually dying.

Toni Petraschk

“Once they put us on the Coast Guard ship, they shot our boat approximately 20 times” - A pushback testimony

A group of 19 refugees who had reached Greek waters was first put in danger by the Greek military and then violently and illegally returned to Turkish waters by the Hellenic Coast Guard, where they were forced into two life rafts and abandoned floating at sea.

Europe says "solidarity" and means cooperation in deportation

How the "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" further strengthens Fortress Europe and excludes humanity.

10 days of death, pushbacks and non-assistance “in line with European law”

Once again has Notis Mitarakis, the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, publicly insisted that no illegal pushbacks are taking place in Greece.

The daily horror of pushbacks

8521. This is the number of refugees that have been illegally pushed back while trying to cross the Aegean Sea since March 2020. Mare Liberum collected information on 266 pushbacks, but the actual number is most likely much higher.

An opinion piece from Lesvos

Arian Henning / Mare Liberum

After all this time in which we've grown numb to the horrors of Moria and daily reports of violence of the European borders regime, the new camp on Lesvos Moria 2.0 first seemed like another shit camp.

The missing people of Moria

When the fire destroyed Europe's biggest refugee camp Moria on September 8th, over 12000 people, were once again displaced and found themselves out on the streets.

Dehumanisation through pushback

Mare Liberum has seen evidence that since March of this year, over 8,000 people have been illegally and brutally forced back across the Greek-Turkish maritime border in the Aegean Sea.

October in the Aegean – a month of excessively brutal pushbacks

While the situation inside the camps is still more than critical and will worsen significantly with the upcoming winter, Greece continues to perform illegal pushbacks to an extent that is beyond anything there has ever been before.

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT SCHEUER ACCEPTS HIS DEFEAT AGAINST MARE LIBERUM

The decision against the detention of our ships is valid!

Pushing back refugees, pushing away witnesses

The Hellenic Coastguard is systematically performing brutal pushbacks to Turkey on a daily basis. Meanwhile, European states have failed to condemn these illegal practices.

Moria 2.0 - The reproduction of inhumanity

After years of the EU and Greece turning a blind eye, Moria refugee camp on Lesvos burned to the ground on the night of 8-9 September 2020. The underlying structures, however, remain in place and continue to reproduce the injustice elsewhere.

European Values Burned in Moria’s Fire

Co-signed statement from Europe Must Act.

How involved is Germany in illegal pushbacks in the Aegean?

To what extent are German police and Bundeswehr (german military) ships involved in practices that violate international maritime law, the Geneva Convention and applicable EU law?

COVID-19 on the smaller Greek islands

The situation in the camps on Kos and Leros is a bit different, since they are continuously “closed” camps by definition. As the camps and the islands hosting them are much smaller, there are fewer solidarity networks and very little information about the current situation.

How Greece and the EU systematically violate human rights

An overview of illegal and inhumane pushbacks in the Aegean Sea.

500 Million for Deterrence

In July 2020, the European Union granted an additional 500 million Euro to Turkey within the framework of the so-called "EU-Turkey Deal". Over 6 billion Euro have so far been paid to Turkey by the EU since the 2016 deal, whereby EU leaders persuaded the country to support them in “protecting their borders” by forcibly preventing a further influx of refugees.

Quarantine Camps - High Risk of Infection

The initial idea that COVID-19 would make everyone equal quickly was misplaced, especially on Lesvos. While race, nationality, gender, and wealth do not physically determine who is most likely to be infected with COVID-19, these factors starkly influence how comfortably and efficiently people can protect themselves from or suffer an infection with the virus.

The deadly border in the Aegean Sea

On June 29th the Turkish Coast Guard picked up a dinghy in distress. The boat had reached Greek waters before but was stopped there by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Instead of rescuing the people from the absolutely unseaworthy dinghy as it would have been their duty, the Coast Guard took away their fuel and pushed the 40 people on board back to Turkish waters.

Is Greece transforming Moria into a closed camp?

While for several weeks now pushbacks and dangerous standoffs at sea became the common practice in the Aegean to prevent migrants from reaching Greece, we witness that at the same time there are many efforts to ‘empty the island’ and push refugees to leave.

Locked down in Hell

While bars, restaurants and hotels are anxiously awaiting the first tourists, refugee camps located on the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea today went into their 4rd round of lockdown lasting until the 5th of July.

New pushback-strategy - How the Hellenic Coast Guard leaves refugees in life rafts at sea

From May 23 to 25 2020 the Turkish Coast Guard rescued a total of 101 migrants from six life rafts in the Aegean Sea.

The legalization of border violence

Systematic human rights violations have become the norm at the EU external borders. Refugees that are trying to cross into Europe are met with extrem violence from the authorities on a daily basis.

Geflüchtete demonstrieren auf Lesbos gegen das Geflüchtetenlager Moria

Chronology of Incidents on Lesvos

How 20.000 refugees just want to leave and conservative islanders, as well as solidary people want them to travel forward – Everybody for very different reasons.

"My country is not safe to live in"

Interview with Aziz from Afghanistan. We met Aziz in Moria. He spoke to us in German.

There is a secret war on refugees and nobody is looking

It seemed as if everybody was holding their breath in expectance of many boats to reach the Greek islands. A few arrived and then: Nothing!

Pushbacks in the Aegean reached a new level of severity

Pushback of 14 people documented who had reached the shores of Chios already.

Lesvos 2020 - A retrospective on the developments on the island over the past few months

Interview with an activists from Welcome2Europe.

Fascists coming back to the streets of Lesvos - fight fascism!

After years of being completely left alone by the EU and being pushed to its breaking point and beyond by having to carry the burden of the European migration policy, far right groups and angry locals took control of the narrative.

A month of uncertainty

Migrants on the north shore of Lesvos, Greece.

Testimony: Illegal Pushback by the Greek Coast Guard

News, Video

We have an eyewitness account of a “pushback” which describes exactly how the “border guards” proceed. The incident happend in March.

Migrants Arriving on Lesvos in State of Exception

Situation of the new arrivals on the island of Lesvos since March 1st, 2020.

Do not Test, Do not See

Whereas containment measures are being put in place on the island of Lesvos, it is surprising that nothing is done for the island's focal point, Moria refugee camp, in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Corona is not the problem, Moria is the problem!

When one begins to imagine the catastrophic consequences of a virus without a cure in Moria, it truly exemplifies how bad the situation already is in the camp, even without Covid-19.

4 Years EU Turkey Deal

Put a Stop to the Shame, Put a Stop to the EU Turkey deal!

Refugees Welcome! Don’t shoot!

Stop Europe's trent towards fascism!

Mare Liberum in Port!

Today, March 11t h Mare Liberum finally moored in a port! The port authorities of Mytilene provided us a place, at least for one day, where they guarantee our safety.

Strong protest against prison camps

Today and also tomorrow Lesvos and the Northern Aegean islands are on general strike as a result of the central government‘s decision to „send riot police to islands of Lesvos and Chios to impose violent transformation of new prisons in defiance of the will of islanders.”

Annual Report: The Aegean Sea, where human rights are less and less important

Mare Liberum Annual Report 2019.

Tensions on Aegean Islands culminate in nationalist General Strike

On Wednesday, 22 January 2020 Mytilene witnessed one of the biggest strikes of the island. Large buses transported people from the villages into Mytilene to take part in a demonstration.

Sentinels of the Sea: why NGOs like Mare Liberum are important now more than ever

At dawn, when the first rays of light begin to reflect on the Aegean waters, Mare Liberum’s onboard radio continues to crackle, belching out numbers, coordinates and requests for Turkish Coast Guard (TCG) intervention from the European Coast Guards (ECGs).

Who will be held responsible for these crimes at sea?

The stretch of land connecting Turkey to Europe has long been a zone of migratory transit, and historically was the main route by which early humans coming from the “fertile crescent” of the Middle East.

The sea should know this

Mare Liberum was part of the action to renew the Memorial in Korakas. Now we share some impressions about it in a Video.

This was not an accident!

They died because of Europe’s cruel deterrence and detention regime!

Is Afghanistan Europe’s Forgotten War? Not for Europe’s Afghan Refugees

The people of Afghanistan are under attack, and they have been for quite some time.

Court rejects political attack on solidarity with refugees

The human rights monitoring organisation Mare Liberum, registered in Berlin as a non-profit, is operating a 20 meter long vessel under German flag in the Aegean Sea, also called “Mare Liberum”.

Migrants keep coming to the Greek islands

Despite the EU-Turkey deal, migrants continue to set out on the dangerous route to Europe with the aim of a future worth living. According to the NGO Aegean Boat Report 2.198 migrants reached the Greek islands between August 1 and 11.

„I was like a bird in a cage looking for freedom.“

Wir haben mit einem Mann gesprochen, der vor kurzem von Lesbos in den Iraq abgeschoben wurde. Die griechische Regierung verlegte ihn vom Hotspot Camp Moria in die Türkei. Hier wurde er weiter in den Iraq gebracht.

I tried 13 times before I reached the Greek islands

Our interview partner is a Palestinian psychologist from Gaza. He left Gaza to come to Europe. Currently he lives living in the hotspot camp in Moria on Lesvos. Before he arrived on Lesvos, he was pulled back 12 times by the Turkish coast guard and once even pushed back by German Frontex.

Right wing tendencies in Chios and Greece threaten safety of refugees and activists

The island of Chios, located in the Aegean Sea, is the unforgiving ‘temporary’ home of around 2000 refugees. The vast majority of them live in Vial refugee camp, located 6.8km from Chios’ main port and town.

Alarming conditions for refugees in Samos

A team from Mare Liberum recently travelled to Samos.

Mare Liberum sets sail!

Wir sind endlich wieder zurück auf See und nun auf Beobachtungsposten an der Ostküste der griechischen Insel Lesbos, mit Sicht auf die türkische Grenze.

Life-jacket graveyard at Lesbos' North shore

In den Hügeln nahe der griechischen Stadt Molyvos vermitteln zehntausende von Rettungswesten ein Bild davon, wie Migration an der europäischen Außengrenze aussieht. Fast alle davon sind so genannte "gefälschte Rettungswesten", die in der Türkei für rund 10 Euro verkauft werden.

Mare Liberum is ready to set sail once again

Mare Liberum is monitoring human rights in the Aegean Sea by ship, and we are prepared to set sail for the second season of monitoring human rights. Our dedicated volunteers feel the urge to prevent unnecessary deaths at Europe’s maritime border.

The human rights activists of Mare Liberum are starting a new project, this time on land. The focus of the new project continues to be the observation of human rights violations and border violence.

Why Turkey is not a “Safe Third Country”

Anstehende Veranstaltungen, Featured

Fight For Solidarity! Stop the criminalization of flight and sea rescue

Scandalous case of criminalisation of refugees: Trial against #Samos2 set for 18 May

N., ein 25-jähriger afghanischer Mann, ist der erste Asylsuchende, der in Europa für den Tod seines Kindes angeklagt wird, dabei war alles, was er wollte, sein Kind in Sicherheit zu bringen.

Pushback Quarterly April - June 2021: Illegal Pushbacks in the Aegean increase and arrivals are on a historic low

Arian Henning / Mare Liberum

Greece: De facto suspension of human rights for refugees in the Aegean

A new report by the organization Mare Liberum shows an unprecedented escalation of human rights violations in the Aegean during the last year, both at sea and on land.

Pushing back refugees, pushing away witnesses

The Hellenic Coastguard is systematically performing brutal pushbacks to Turkey on a daily basis. Meanwhile, European states have failed to condemn these illegal practices.

Mare Liberum launches new project on land

The human rights activists of Mare Liberum are starting a new project, this time on land. The focus of the new project continues to be the observation of human rights violations and border violence.

Scandalous case of criminalisation of refugees: Trial against #Samos2 set for 18 May