The 19-year-old survivor of war, forced labor and human trafficking was forced at gunpoint to steer the boat – now he faces life in prison.
Bada is one of many Sudanese teenagers locked up and facing decades in prison for steering the boat.
Still a child, Bada lost this parents in the war and fled with his younger sisters to Egypt, where they lived on the streets.
He moved on to Libya, where he survived forced labor and human trafficking and was coerced through economic pressure and physical threat to steer the boat to Greece.
International law prohibits the criminalization of individuals for having been smuggled—least of all those fleeing war and persecution.
In Bada’s case, he may even qualify as a victim of trafficking, as he was coerced into steering the boat.
However, these realities are systematically ignored in Greek “anti-smuggling” prosecutions.By prosecuting him and others, Greece is in clear breach of its international obligations.
Bada wants to share his story with you:
“I left my country in 2023 because of the war. After losing our parents, my two sisters and I fled to Egypt, but life there was unbearable — no work, no food, and I often slept on the streets. Desperate, I went to Libya, hoping I could reach Europe through smugglers.
In Libya, I worked as a house cleaner, but when I asked to leave, they refused to pay me and would not let me go, so I escaped. I knew that if they caught me, they would kill me.
A smuggler agreed to take me to Europe for half the price, but only on one condition: I had to hold the GPS phone during the journey.
I accepted, because risking death at sea seemed better than dying in Libya.
Before departure, me and another boy were forced to drive the boat at gunpoint. They told us that if we refused, they would kill us in front of everyone. (…)
When we finally reached the shore, I thought all my suffering had ended, and that I would finally be able to take care of my sisters.
But the dream did not last even an hour: I was arrested by the police and sent to prison.
Everything I did was only to survive — not because I am a criminal. All I wanted was a safe and secure place where I could sleep in peace.
I am not a criminal. I am a victim of war.“
Bada will stand on trial on 01.09. with at least 15 other Sudanese boys.
We demand that all charges against Bada be dropped!
Anti-smuggling laws must be abolished!