HRW: Greece immigration bill criminalizing humanitarian workers violates freedom of association News
Ggia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
HRW: Greece immigration bill criminalizing humanitarian workers violates freedom of association

Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized on Thursday the Greek government’s new immigration bill for imposing restrictive measures on civil society organizations that provide aid to immigrants and for criminalizing humanitarian activity, which violates fundamental human rights.

HRW noted that the proposed bill would amend Greece’s migration code by introducing several new measures related to the registration of civil society organizations. These include the creation of a new registry for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the requirement of a certification from the Migration Minister for all the employees of an organization, and the possibility of revoking the residence permit of an NGO member if he is suspected of violating the criminal provisions. This, according to the group, violates the presumption of innocence.

Furthermore, the new immigration bill designates membership in an NGO as an aggravating factor for several offenses and imposes harsher penalties on individuals who assist immigrants. For instance, the bill classifies the transportation of undocumented migrants as a felony rather than a misdemeanor, and imposes an imprisonment sentence of ten years and a €50,000 fine for facilitating the illegal entry or exit of migrants.

According to HRW, the bill stigmatizes humanitarian work and may deter organizations from providing assistance to those in need. Additionally, the proposed measures restrict the ability of individuals to join NGOs and participate actively in civil society, thereby limiting the right to freedom of association. Consequently, HRW called on the parliament to reject the bill and adopt legislation that respects and protects civic space.

Greece has previously faced criticism for its restrictive migration laws and for using national legislation to criminalize the activities of civil society organizations. In 2023, a UN report found that human rights defenders and aid providers faced retaliatory measures from Greek authorities, including criminal proceedings and administrative sanctions, for simply assisting or showing solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers. In 2025, the Council of Europe urged Greece to improve the treatment of migrants and protect the human rights of Roma communities. Additionally, a rights group criticized a Greek bill for alleged violations of asylum seekers’ rights. Greece has also been investigated by the EU’s border protection agency for possible human rights violations committed by authorities against undocumented migrants. Earlier this month, a Greek court acquitted 24 humanitarian workers after seven years of criminal proceedings related to rescuing migrants trying to reach a Greek island.

The debate continues regarding the treatment of migrant rescue operations at sea, as states prioritize border control and leave the conduct of rescue operations mainly to humanitarian organizations.

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