Trial for Spanish refugee rescue volunteers charged with 'human trafficking'
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 @ 3:32 PM
THREE Spanish firemen who were arrested on the Greek island of Lesbos two years ago charged with 'human trafficking' are about to face trial, and have hit out at how aid work is being systematically 'criminalised'.
Manuel Blanco, Enrique Rodríguez and Julio Latorre, from Sevilla, joined the charity Proem-Aid in January 2016 as volunteers to help refugees, rescuing desperate migrants who were drowning in the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach a safe haven from war, poverty and persecution.
The three firefighters spent several days in a police cell before being granted bail to the tune of €5,000 a head.
“This is a trial that goes far beyond our own situation – it's humanitarian aid that's going to be on trial,” said Manuel.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com