Tommy Olsen is a Norwegian schoolteacher turned advocate documenting the perilous journeys of migrants crossing into Greece. Lauren Markham tells the story of his work on the Aegean Boat Report, highlighting the practice of pushbacks, where authorities forcibly return refugees to dangerous waters even though it is illegal to do so.
Greek authorities had effectively outlawed volunteers, NGO workers and even journalists from coming to refugees’ assistance. Anyone found at a boat landing risks arrest. That means there are fewer people assisting refugees upon first arrival (in contrast with just a few years ago, when Greek beaches would sometimes be packed with more eager-to-help volunteers than refugees on boats). It also means there are few witnesses.
This crackdown on solidarity workers isn’t only happening in Greece. Italy, for instance, charged four members of the Iuventa — a ship that has rescued more than 14,000 people in the Mediterranean — with “aiding and abetting illegal migration.” Italy also charged Pia Klemp, the German captain who piloted ships for the rescue organization Sea-Watch, with “aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy” — a crime for which she faced 20 years in prison. French farmer Cédric Herrou routinely found refugees passing across his land and provided them shelter — an act for which he was charged with the crime of “facilitating irregular entry.”