Dutch Aid Worker Acquitted After 7-Year Legal Battle

After seven years of waiting, a Greek court has delivered justice to 24 aid workers who risked their lives to save refugees at sea.

Pieter Wittenberg, a 78-year-old Dutch volunteer, was arrested in 2018 while working with Emergency Response Center International off the coast of Lesbos. He and his colleagues rescued refugees in danger of drowning in the Mediterranean.

Greek authorities charged all 24 volunteers with human trafficking, criminal organization membership, and money laundering. Each faced up to 20 years in prison simply for pulling people from the water.

On Thursday, a Lesbos court acquitted them of every charge.

Wittenberg described the verdict as a "great relief," comparing it to "coming up for air after a long dive." His words capture not just personal freedom, but vindication for humanitarian work itself.

The seven-year legal battle took its toll beyond the courtroom. During the lengthy prosecution, rescue operations faced serious obstacles, and countless refugees continued arriving on Greek shores without adequate support.

The Ripple Effect

This acquittal sends a powerful message about the right to save lives. Two dozen people who answered humanity's call can now continue their work without fear of imprisonment.

The timing matters deeply. In 2025 alone, 48,000 refugees fled to Greece, with 4,000 arriving on Lesbos, according to UN figures. These islands remain frontline destinations for people seeking safety, and volunteers like Wittenberg remain essential.

Human Rights Watch called the prosecution "baseless charges for saving lives." The seven-year ordeal highlighted a troubling trend across Europe, where humanitarian workers increasingly face legal threats for rescue operations.

Now cleared, these volunteers prove that compassion isn't criminal. Their acquittal protects not just 24 individuals, but the principle that helping people in danger should never lead to prison.

While Wittenberg admits feeling "empty instead of euphoric" about the years lost, his freedom restores hope for aid workers across the Mediterranean who continue rescuing lives despite legal risks.

Justice arrived late, but it arrived with clarity: saving drowning refugees is heroism, not crime.