Greek trial of volunteer migrant rescuers to resume Friday

By PANAGIOTIS BALASKAS and ELENA BECATOROS
Associated Press

MYTILENE, Greece (AP) — A group of 24 Greek and foreign aid workers and volunteers who participated in migrant rescue operations on an eastern Greek island are on trial in a smuggling-related case widely criticized by human rights groups. The defendants deny all charges and say all they did was help rescue people. The aid workers include prominent Syrian human rights worker Sarah Mardini, a refugee herself and competitive swimmer. She wasn’t present for Tuesday’s court hearing, which was later adjourned until Friday. Mardini and fellow volunteer Sean Binder were arrested in 2018 on charges including espionage, forgery and unlawful use of radio frequencies, and spent more than three months in jail.