Sudanese Refugee Faces 58-Year Sentence for Steering Migrant Boat in Greece
A 21-year-old man from Sudan, Angui Nasir, is appealing a hefty prison sentence in Greece. He was convicted for piloting a boat carrying refugees from Turkey to Greece. The case has sparked debate about Greece's migration laws and the treatment of asylum seekers.
Nasir was sentenced to 58 years in prison for each fatality and an additional three years for every person transported. This totals 58 years, a sentence deemed disproportionately severe by some. His case is being appealed, with the outcome uncertain.
Nasir is accused of aiding illegal entry of third-country nationals, a charge considered human smuggling under Greek law. However, his asylum procedure was suspended during his pretrial detention, allowing for his conviction on these charges. As of February 2023, over 2,100 people were in detention on similar charges in Greece.
Greek migration law defines human smuggling as the unauthorized entry of third-country nationals, but asylum seekers are exempt from these penalties. Nasir's case has raised questions about the Greek state's push for harsher measures against asylum seekers. Eleven migrants facing similar charges were acquitted in recent trials due to the heat and case backlog.
Nasir was forced to steer the boat due to lack of other options and couldn't afford the full fare for a legal, safe ferry. Humanitarian organizations, such as the German Red Cross, support refugees broadly, but no direct mention of advocacy for Nasir's case was found.
Nasir's case highlights the complexities of Greece's migration laws and the challenges faced by asylum seekers. His appeal could set a precedent for similar cases, with the outcome eagerly awaited by advocates and critics alike.
