Greek Forum of Refugees: Joint Statement: Neither an accident nor an incident – A brutal crime in the Aegean Sea

The Greek Forum of Refugees (GFR) and the RISE Network[1] (Refugees Ideas and Solutions for Europe) express their outrage, profound concern, and deep sorrow over yet another brutal crime against refugees in the Aegean Sea. On December 20, 2024, near Rhodes Island, the Hellenic Coast Guard deliberately rammed a boat carrying 27 refugees, including women and children, leaving eight dead, three of whom were decapitated or lost part of their bodies due to the severity of the collision. In addition, a four-year-old girl is missing. This was neither an accident nor an incident – it was a brutal crime.

This is not an isolated case. For years, Greece and EU institutions have turned a blind eye to systematic pushbacks, brutal violence, illegal detentions, and deliberate failures to conduct life-saving search and rescue operations. From the Pylos shipwreck in June 2023, which left over 600 dead, to numerous other preventable tragic and fatal incidents. drownings, European border policies, particularly on the Greek-Turkish border, have become a mechanism of death. The scathing report by the Greek Ombudsman on the Pylos shipwreck, highlighting clear evidence of serious criminal liability among senior Coast Guard officers—further demonstrates the deep-rooted impunity within Greek authorities.Additionally, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling in A.R.E vs Greece (January 16, 2024) condemned Greece for violating the right to life when the Hellenic Coast Guard opened fire on a refugee boat near Pserimos Island in 2014, killing a passenger and injuring others. The court found that Greek authorities lacked clear regulations on lethal force in maritime operations, failed to conduct a proper investigation, and dismissed critical evidence, reinforcing a culture of impunity.  These systemic failures must be urgently addressed to prevent further tragedies.

In a broken system that prioritizes deterrence over humanity, traffickers emerge as the main perpetrators, exploiting desperation, endangering lives, and profiting from human suffering. Yet rather than focusing accountability on these criminal networks, Greek and European Union authorities systematically target their victims: refugees and asylum seekers fleeing war, persecution, and unimaginable tragedies.

These people, already suffering unimaginable trauma, face further injustice as they are confronted with punitive border policies and inhumane practices that exacerbate their vulnerability. Too often, they pay the highest price with their lives, while systemic failures allow violence and exploitation to thrive along Europe’s borders.

We refuse to stay silent while refugees are being murdered at Europe’s borders.

The Rhodes Tragedy: A Crime Against Humanity

Two survivors, ‘D’—searching for his missing four-year-old daughter—and ‘M,’ who lost his wife to decapitation, describe the horror:

“Our boat left Bodrum, Turkey, at 7:20 a.m. on December 20. It was a sunny day. At around 9:30 or 10 a.m., when we were close to Rhodes, two Coast Guard boats appeared behind us. One approached rapidly from the left side of our boat and rammed us without warning. Everything happened in seconds. The Coast Guard boat literally climbed on top of us, crushing those sitting in the front. When I regained consciousness, I saw bodies floating. A woman had no head. The other Coast Guard boat just watched us from a distance.”

This testimony sheds light on the brutal circumstances of the tragedy. The survivors complain that the incident was not the result of an accident or mishap but of a deliberate crime.

This crime violates:

• International Maritime Law, which mandates search and rescue at sea.
• The 1951 Refugee Convention, which guarantees the right to seek asylum.
• The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, specifically the principle of non-refoulement.
• Greek national law, which requires authorities to conduct life-saving operations.

Instead of protecting lives, the Greek and EU authorities have repeatedly made decisions that cost lives.

Our Demands: End Impunity, Ensure Justice

We demand urgent action from the Greek and EU authorities:

1. Find the Missing Child: Deploy all resources to locate the four-year-old girl and end the agony of her critically injured mother, who remains in intensive care, and her grieving father.
2. Launch an Independent Investigation: Establish a transparent, EU-led inquiry into Coast Guard actions, including reviewing onboard footage. Prosecute those responsible.
3. Allow Survivors to Identify the Bodies: Some survivors have not yet been granted access to the remains of their loved ones—this cruelty must end.
4. Facilitate Repatriation of the Bodies: Expedite the process of returning the victims’ remains to their families, providing them with the dignity and closure they deserve.
5. End Systematic Pushbacks and Border Violence: The Greek and EU authorities must halt all illegal deterrence practices that violate international law and result in the preventable deaths of refugees.
6. A Holistic Approach to Combat Trafficking: Authorities must take decisive action to dismantle trafficking networks, prosecute traffickers, and ensure that refugees are not punished or further victimized.

A Call to Action: European Civil Society Must Not Stay Silent

We call on civil society organizations, legal bodies, and European citizens to:

• Sign this statement demanding accountability.
• Pressure national governments and the European Commission to sanction Greece for breaking international laws.
• Engage the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to hold Greek authorities accountable for state-sanctioned killings.
• Mobilize protests, petitions, and advocacy campaigns to expose these crimes.
• Support refugee-led organizations and focus on the survivors’ voices in all advocacy efforts.

This is not just about Greece—this is about Europe. If we remain silent, we are complicit.

The European Union was built on democracy, human rights, and dignity. If we allow these murders to continue, we are betraying those very principles.

Enough is Enough. Stop the Killings. Act Now.

You can still add your organization’s signature, contacting info@refugees.gr. Share this statement widely and demand justice for the victims of Rhodes – and all refugees who are denied humane treatment.