Three Afghan asylum seekers were acquitted last Friday by a juvenile court in Mytilene, on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, overturning prior convictions that saw them imprisoned for over three years for allegedly starting the fire that destroyed the overcrowded Moria refugee camp in September 2020.
Initially tried as adults and sentenced to 10 years, their conviction was based solely on the pre-trial deposition of a fellow Afghan, who never testified in court.
The defendants had consistently claimed to be minors during the incident and presented official documents to support this. However, authorities initially relied on wrist X-rays to determine their age. They had claimed at the time that they were 15, 16 and 17.
In 2024, an appeals court ruled the original trial court lacked jurisdiction, leading to a retrial under juvenile law. Defense lawyers argued the process violated fair trial rights, citing European human rights jurisprudence. The witness’ reliability was also questioned due to tribal rivalries.
The three Afghans are now expected to claim compensation for the time they were unjustly held in prison. [kathimerini]