Smuggler or passenger? Tara makes her case

On December 17, a Greek court will try Iranian Tara M., 26, accused of aiding a smuggling operation in August involving 77 migrants stranded at sea en route from Turkey to Italy.

The migrants, from Egypt, Iran, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan, paid €4,500 to €8,000 each for the journey. Rescued near Pylos by the Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship, three were arrested, including Tara, alleged to be connected to the smugglers. Tara denies involvement, claiming she paid €8,000 as a passenger seeking a better future. "I'm innocent," she told the court.

Her lawyer, Zacharias Kesses, called her a victim of human traffickers and flawed legal procedures. Legal jurisdiction may complicate the case, as similar trials were dismissed due to Greek courts' lack of authority in international waters. 

A notable 2023 ruling on Rhodes dismissed charges against six Lebanese smugglers...