17.09.2020

Solidarity with Pierre-Alain Mannoni

Solidarity with Pierre-Alain Mannoni

++ Appeal trial on 23 September 2020: Attorney General demands a 5-month suspended sentence; court decision to be taken on October 28 ++

"It was what I had to do. I had 4 years to think about it". Article in French here.

Yesterday, Wednesday September 23, Pierre-Alain Mannoni's fifth trial began in Lyon. In yesterday's opening trial, the Attorney General demanded a 5-month suspended sentence for the 49-year-old and criticized his own initiative: "Why [should] one not trust the rule of law?"

The answer is simple: If the state systematically criminalizes solidarity and violates the rights of people on the move, it loses its credibility.

"I would do it again anytime” - When giving a lift to three injured Eritrean women to the next train station in 2016, 49-year old professor Pierre-Alain Mannoni was arrested and accused of “unlawful assistance to illegal entry”.

If convicted, the father of two faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to 15.000€.

• In October 2016, Pierre-Alain Mannoni saw three young injured women from Eritrea at the side of the road in the Roya Valley near the French-Italian border. He offered to take them to the near-by train station so they could reach the next hospital and receive medical assistance. On his way to the station, the 49-year-old was arrested and accused of "aiding and abetting illegal residence".
• In the following trial, the 49-year old professor was initally acquitted but the prosecution appealed against this decision.
• On appeal, Mannoni was sentenced to a suspended prison term of 3 months.
• Believing in the rightfulness of his behaviour, Mannoni went to the Constitutional Court, which ruled in his favour: according to the principle of "fraternité" ("fraternity") enshrined in the French Constitution, everyone must be able to help another person, regardless of their residence status.
• Mannoni's conviction was subsequently overturned and a new trial was scheduled.
• On 23 September 2020, the fifth trial in four years took place.

“I did it for the people, I did it for myself, but I also did it for my daughter, to show her what is the right thing to do.”

Despite of the proceedings brought against him, Mannoni is neither deterred nor intimidated. He would always help refugees in need again. Mannoni is another example of the growing systematic criminalisation of solidarity in the EU - standing up for the rights and dignity of migrants is impeded, prevented, and punished.

“The reason for this is racism “, says Mannoni.

Read more information about the case: https://www.borderline-europe.de/unsere-arbeit/solidarit%C3%A4t-mit-pierre-alain-mannoni?l=en

Language(s): Deutsch / German