Still a child, he fled South Sudan & Sudan, and was forced at gunpoint to steer the boat — now, in the EU, he faces life in prison. Garan’s story exposes how the reality on board is systematically ignored in so-called “smuggling” prosecutions.
Garan wants to share his story with you:
“My name is Garan David Garan, and I am from South Sudan. I left my country because of the war that devastated both South Sudan and Sudan. I had to leave my elderly parents behind, as they were too old to travel.
I first went to Egypt in search of a better and safer life, but things did not improve. I couldn’t afford rent or food, and sometimes I slept on the streets with an empty stomach. Because of this, I decided to move to Libya.
In Libya, I worked cleaning streets and sometimes as a farm laborer. One day, some young Libyan men came to the Sudanese area where we lived and told us they had work for us. We went with them, but instead of paying us, they refused to let us leave and locked us in a small room. That’s when I realized we had been kidnapped.
A few days later, they took us to the sea. The boat was ready and full of passengers, and they forced me at gunpoint to drive it after teaching me some basic instructions. We sailed until we reached Greece, where I was arrested.
I am not a criminal. Everything that happened to me was because of the war and the terrible situation in my country, and because I am the only one who can take care of my parents. I did not choose to be at sea, but I had no choice if I wanted to stay alive and keep the passengers alive.”
Not only did Garan survive kidnapping and forced labor — he is being prosecuted for the very actions he was forced to carry out.
On top of that, he is being prosecuted and detained as an adult, despite being a minor.
In Libya, migrants face detention, torture, and extortion, made worse by European cooperation with the Libyan Coast Guard. Garan’s case lays bare a system that punishes survivors while empowering the real perpetrators.
The teenage boy is facing his trial on the 1st of September in Chania, Crete together with at least 13 other young Sudanese boys.
Thanks to your support, we are able to hire a lawyer for Garan and at least 5 others to represent them in court.
This criminalization is a gross injustice — it must stop!
Free Garan! Free them all!