Norway: Release human rights defender Tommy Olsen and reject his extradition to Greece

Responding to the arrest in Norway of humanitarian worker and founder of the NGO Aegean Boat Report, Tommy Olsen, who is being prosecuted in Greece alongside fellow human rights defender Panayote Dimitras, of the NGO Greek Helsinki Monitor, on charges related to their work defending the rights of refugees and migrants, Dinushika Dissanayake Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe said: “Tommy Olsen’s arrest in Norway is appalling and stems from an alarming escalation of Greece’s crackdown on human rights defenders. Based on information available to Amnesty International, Tommy Olsen and Panayote Dimitras are being prosecuted for their human rights work documenting serious human rights violations committed by the Greek authorities, including pushbacks at sea and land borders.    “The charges against Olsen and Dimitras are not backed by evidence and are a misuse of anti-smuggling legislation. They should be dropped.  In the absence of any credible efforts from the Greek authorities to stop pushing back refugees and migrants and ensure accountability at its borders, Olsen and Dimitras’s work has proven vital in ensuring that these violations do not go unnoticed. “It is no surprise that the Greek authorities are seeking Olsen’s extradition. These are the same authorities that pursued an unfounded prosecution against Seán Binder and 23 human rights defenders, leading to seven years of agonizing legal uncertainty. Greece should stop harassing people who report and document violations of refugee and migrants’ rights. “The Norwegian authorities must immediately release Tommy Olsen and resist attempts by the Greek authorities to…

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