By Marianna Fragkou | Programs, Comms & Fundraising Coordinator
Over the past months, the legal team of the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) has continued to provide essential legal support to asylum seekers and refugees navigating complex procedures in Greece. Through legal counseling, representation before asylum authorities and courts, and interventions to protect individuals from unlawful detention or deportation, GCR works to ensure that people seeking protection are able to access their fundamental right to asylum. In 2025 alone, hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees received legal assistance through GCR’s programs in Athens, Thessaloniki, and border regions, covering all stages of the asylum process and related procedures.
In recent months, particular attention has been required in cases involving the criminalisation of refugees accused of smuggling, especially in Crete. Many asylum seekers are prosecuted simply because they were forced to steer the boat during their journey to safety. GCR lawyers continue to provide legal defense and strategic support in such cases, highlighting the risks of wrongful convictions and the broader implications for access to protection and justice. At the same time, the organization remains closely engaged in monitoring developments at the borders, including incidents that require urgent legal intervention to safeguard access to asylum procedures, such as the recent incident in the Greek island of Chios.
Beyond individual cases, GCR’s work contributes to protecting the integrity of the asylum system and upholding fundamental rights. Legal representation, documentation of violations, and interventions before national and international bodies remain crucial tools to ensure that vulnerable people, including survivors of torture, families with children, and unaccompanied minors, are not left without protection.
As asylum procedures grow increasingly complex, continued legal support remains essential to ensure that the right to seek asylum is not only guaranteed in law but accessible in practice. With your support, GCR can continue to ensure that people seeking safety are not denied justice simply because they lack legal representation.
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