Immigration – Asylum

In October 2025, in the context of the preparation of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Report on the “Human rights of Migrants”, the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR) submitted a contribution on the situation of the rights of migrant women and men in Greece. HLHR’s contribution reflects the overall state of migrant protection in Greece, based on legislation, administrative practice, case law, and available data.

Appeals by survivors of the tragic shipwreck accepted

Athens, 16 July 2025 [Updated 21 July 2025]: We, the undersigned civil society organisations, condemn the unlawful and impermissible legislative provision adopted by the Hellenic Parliament on Friday 11 July 2025 (Article 79 of Law 5218/2025) which imposes a three-month suspension on the making of asylum applications for people arriving in Greece from North Africa and orders their immediate deportation without registration.

Athens, 19 June 2025

PRESS RELEASE

Two years after the Pylos crime: Developments in the criminal proceedings – Criminal prosecution

On Thursday 19 June 2025, a Press Conference was held at the Athens Bar Association marking the second anniversary of the Pylos crime, the deadliest shipwreck recorded in the Mediterranean in recent years.

The lawyers representing the survivors and victims of the shipwreck of the fishing vessel “Adriana”, which occurred west off Pylos on 14 June 2023, have been informed of the completion of the preliminary investigation conducted by the competent Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court, and the criminal prosecution and referral to main investigation on felony charges against 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard, including senior officers of its leadership.

The Greek Forum of Refugees (GFR) and the RISE Network[1] (Refugees Ideas and Solutions for Europe) express their outrage, profound concern, and deep sorrow over yet another brutal crime against refugees in the Aegean Sea. On December 20, 2024, near Rhodes Island, the Hellenic Coast Guard deliberately rammed a boat carrying 27 refugees, including women and children, leaving eight dead, three of whom were decapitated or lost part of their bodies due to the severity of the collision. In addition, a four-year-old girl is missing. This was neither an accident nor an incident – it was a brutal crime.

The absence of any investigation into the responsibilities of the competent search and rescue bodies and the leadership of the Coast Guard and the Greek Coast Guard is deafening

The trial of the nine survivors of the deadly Pylos shipwreck was scheduled for 21 May 2024, in Kalamata. The Court dismissed all charges against the survivors due to lack of jurisdiction. The Court found the prosecution inadmissible for the charges of criminal organization and causing a shipwreck. Additionally, the defendants were acquitted of charges related to transporting migrants and illegal entry into the country.

Athens, September 14, 2023: Forty survivors of the deadly shipwreck in Pylos filed yesterday a criminal complaint against all responsible parties before the Naval Court of Piraeus.

The survivors, represented by the Network for Refugee and Migrant Rights, the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR), the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), the Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for the shipwreck of Pylos, and Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), denounce a series of violations of the Greek authorities’ obligations to protect the lives of those on board and demand an effective investigation into the circumstances of the deadliest shipwreck to occur in the Mediterranean in recent years.

Athens, June 21, 2023: Greece must guarantee independent and effective monitoring of violations of the human rights of refugees and migrants to restore the rule of law, following the European Commission request to the Greek authorities for an investigation of a push back of refugees by the Hellenic Coast Guard on Lesvos island, documented by the New York Times. The Greek authorities have entrusted the National Transparency Authority (NTA) with the investigation.

On 20 February 2023, the Hellenic League for Human Rights proceeded with a submission to the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR, in accordance with Rule 9.2 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers Concerning the judgment Safi and Others v Greece (5418/15).

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in its judgment Safi and Others v Greece, App No 5418/15, 7.7.2022, examined the application of 14 refugees supported by our organisation on violation of articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court held the Greek authorities responsible for the shipwreck that took place on Farmakonisi on 20 January 2014 following the involvement of a Coast Guard vessel, which led to the tragic drowning of eight children and three women, refugees from Afghanistan.

PRESS RELEASE

WITCH-HUNT AGAINST DEFENDERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN COMPLETE REVERSAL OF REALITY

Athens, 19 December 2022

European and international human rights monitoring bodies record systematic and continuous complaints regarding pushbacks (which are always illegal) of refugees at Greece’s borders. These complaints have become commonplace[1]; yet, instead of being investigated, the people and the organisations who denounce them and address the competent bodies are themselves targeted and accused of criminal charges.