{"id":76263,"date":"2020-03-25T13:18:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T11:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/?p=76263"},"modified":"2026-08-19T20:40:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:40:49","slug":"protect-laws-humanity-open-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/en\/news\/protect-laws-humanity-open-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"“Protect our laws and humanity!” Open Letter by 256 Organizations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cProtect our laws and humanity!\u201d Open Letter by 256 Organizations<\/h1>

25 March 2020<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"<\/p>\n

To: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/p>\n

President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli<\/p>\n

President of the European Council, Charles Michel<\/p>\n

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Athens, 6 March 2020 <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 The undersigned organisations are deeply concerned about recent developments at the Evros border and the Aegean islands where people are stranded at the borders of Europe, instrumentalized for political purposes, and subject to violations of their rights. We are also deeply concerned about the way the authorities of Greece and the European Union are handling new arrivals. Equally alarming are the extreme actions by security forces against refugees and by civilians against staff of human rights and humanitarian organizations. We would also like to point out that the climate of panic and rhetoric of 'asymmetric threat' \u2013also promoted by the authorities\u2013 does not reflect reality and seriously affects not only vulnerable refugees- but also our society and the rule of law as a whole.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Specifically:<\/strong><\/p>\n

We firmly express our opposition to the recent decisions<\/strong> of the Greek Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), and in particular the adoption of the Emergency Legislative Decree, which stipulates the suspension of the right to seek asylum for all people entering the country and their return without registration, to their countries of origin or transit. Applying such a regulatory provision is inhumane and illegal as it violates the fundamental principle of non-refoulement<\/em>, incurs international responsibilities for Greece and endangers human lives. It is beyond dispute that Greece has the sovereign competence to control its borders and to manage any crossings there. Nevertheless, the right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We also denounce<\/strong> the attacks on organizations that defend human rights and humanitarian organizations, noting that without the support of these organizations, the refugee management system in Greece would collapse. In addition, solidarity has been stigmatized and become the target of suspicion, which has been also exacerbated by members of the Government, fomenting violence and lawlessness in society in general. We denounce any statements, actions or policies that foment or tolerate bigotry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We call upon the Greek Government to:<\/strong><\/p>\n