[Thessaloniki,  18.12.24] Homayoun  Sabetara has been released from prison. Finally, three long months  after his appeal trial and an even longer three years after his arrest  as a “smuggler”, he arrived in Thessaloniki on Monday evening.  

How does a person spend their first evening in freedom after three years in prison? For Homayoun, it meant finally making video calls with his family, going  shopping, cooking whatever he felt like and celebrating the night with  music videos. Banalities that many people with European papers never  have to think about. However, it will take time and perhaps even more evenings like this before his life returns to some kind of normality.  

Hundreds of supporters have spent the last few months waiting with  Homayoun for his release. The news on Monday evening brought relief and  joy to us all. Homayoun is free! Now he can slowly start to take control of his own life again. The campaign team is wholeheartedly happy for him and his family.  

Homayoun's story has reached and moved many people. It has encouraged other people in similar situations and their relatives to make their stories public. Thousands of people in Greece continue to be affected by the policy of  criminalisation as ‘smugglers’. People who were forced to drive a car or  boat during their own flight, or who were accused of doing so by the  authorities without any justification. This policy no longer goes  unchallenged.    

Three and a half years ago, Homayoun Sabetara was arrested while fleeing  Iran across the Greek border and sentenced to 18 years in prison for  ‘aiding and abetting illegal entry’. Despite a lack of evidence, he was not acquitted in  the appeal process on 25 September. However, the sentence was reduced  to 7 years and 4 months, meaning that he was to be released due to the  time he had already served in prison.                                       

It should take a maximum of 20 to 30 days, was the information on 25 September. However, the following three months were characterised by a lack of transparency and delays. Even  the lawyers didn't know when the release would actually take place.  Little by little, we learnt how many more bureaucratic hurdles and  instances had to be overcome before the actual release. Last week, the  authorities made the final decision: Homayoun will be allowed to leave  prison under conditions.    

For Homayoun himself, his release from prison does not yet mean that he will be granted protection status in Europe. Nor does it mean a future together with his children, who live in  Berlin. As he has been released on parole, he must now report to a  police station in Thessaloniki every month for the next three years and  is not allowed to leave Greece. It is also uncertain what will happen to  his asylum status. Without an acquittal, it is unlikely that he will  receive a positive asylum decision. His path to justice is far from over.  

We cannot wait to finally meet Homayoun in person. To finally speak to  him directly, to plan the next steps together, to look to the future  together. What dreams and wishes does he have after three years behind  bars? What strength will keep him going for the next steps in this  agonising battle against the European and Greek authorities? No matter  where the next steps take him, one thing is certain: the campaign team  will continue to stand firmly by his side.    

Solidarity wins! Free Homayoun! Free them all!