A COURT in Greece is to decide later this week whether to drop the “farcical” charges against 24 refugee rescuers after the trial was postponed to Friday following procedural objections from the defendants’ lawyers.

The activists, who volunteered with the refugee rescue and support organisation Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI), saved thousands of lives in the waters around the Greek island of Lesbos between 2017 and 2018.

Two of the defendants — German-Irish citizen Sean Binder, 25, and former Syrian refugee Sarah Mardini, 24, whose 2015 journey to Europe with her sister inspired the 2022 Netflix film The Swimmers — were arrested by the Greek authorities in 2018 following a rescue operation and detained for 106 days.

They and 20 other ERCI members were charged with offences ranging from fraud and forgery, to people-smuggling, espionage, being members of a criminal organisation, and money-laundering.

If found guilty, they could face 25 years behind bars.

The activists were due to stand trial in November 2021, but the case was adjourned on procedural grounds until today.

The defendants at the trial in Mytelini, Lesbos, this morning denied the charges, saying that they only wanted to saved lives.

Their lawyers argued that the defendants could not fairly defend themselves because the charges were too vague and that the prosecution had not provided evidence to support the accusations.

The judge adjourned the case to Friday, when the court will decide on the lawyers’ submitted objections.

Speaking outside the court afterwards, Mr Binder said the defence had given reason after irrefutable reason why the trial cannot continue.

“All we are asking for, all our lawyers have demanded is that the rule of law is respected. That Greek laws are respected.

“We want the rule of law, and we'll find out on Friday whether we get the rule of law or the rule of flaws.”

Last week, Amnesty International Europe director Nils Muiznieks said Binder and Mardini did what any of us should do if we were in their position.

“Helping people at risk of drowning in one of the deadliest sea routes in Europe and assisting them on the shoreline is not a crime.

“It is farcical that this trial is even taking place. All charges against the rescuers must be dropped without delay.”