Seán Binder said the trial was 'an attack on the idea of human rights and the rule of law' but added he was confident of being found innocent in a fairly run trial
An Irish humanitarian has said his trial in Greece over smuggling-related charges is"deeply damaging" to the European Union.
The defendants deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that they had wanted to help save lives when Lesbos was overwhelmed by refugees and migrant arrivals from nearby Turkey. The trial of Mr Binder and others over misdemeanour charges is set to begin on Tuesday, although the felony charges could take up to 15 years longer to be brought to trial in the Greek system.
"Because if they really thought that we were the criminals they accuse us of being, and if they really thought they had the evidence to back it up, then they would have brought this trial as quickly as possible because they want us behind bars." "So I'm relatively confident that when we get to trial, and if it is indeed a fair trial, that I will be found innocent.
"Every bit of international law, every bit of European Human Rights Convention requires what I did, and more. The hypocrisy of the situation is deeply damaging to the EU as a whole.Mr Binder said Emergency Response Centre International had won awards and worked with the Greek authorities, even lending them equipment.
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