A Norwegian appeals court has dismissed the extradition of Tommy Olsen, a migrant rights activist accused by Greece of facilitating illegal entry, in a landmark decision hailed as a victory for human rights. The Hålogaland appeals court in Tromsø unanimously rejected the request, ruling that Olsen's actions were lawful and protected under international treaties to which both Norway and Greece are signatories.
Court Ruling and Legal Implications
Zacharias Kesses, head of Olsen's legal team in Athens, described the ruling as unprecedented. 'Blocking an extradition request on the continent of Europe is unheard of, which is why this is also such a victory for human rights. Tommy was charged with monitoring and reporting people in distress at sea – an absurdity that the Norwegian court acknowledged,' he said.
Olsen was arrested on March 16 at his home in Tromsø following a European arrest warrant issued by Greece. A district court initially upheld the request, but the activist appealed. The appeals court cited the risk to Olsen's freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights. It also stated that under Norwegian law, his actions—including recording violations, communicating with refugees, and assisting in asylum procedures—were not criminal offenses. Norwegian prosecution authorities confirmed they would not appeal the decision.
Background of the Case
Olsen founded the Aegean Boat Report in 2017, which frequently reported on alleged 'pushbacks' of migrants in the Aegean Sea. Greek authorities have denied these forced expulsions despite evidence described as incontrovertible by human rights defenders. Greece claimed Olsen was running a criminal organization to smuggle people into the country. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, urged Norway not to extradite him, arguing his arrest stemmed from misuse of anti-smuggling legislation aimed at chilling the migrant solidarity movement.
Greece, as an EU border country, has cracked down on NGOs assisting migrants. A law passed in February empowers the migration minister to strike NGOs from an official register without a court ruling and imposes prison terms of at least 10 years and fines of at least €50,000 for members found guilty of facilitating entry or exit of third-country nationals.
International Support and Reactions
Olsen won widespread international support. Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, called for the case to be dropped, stating his prosecution 'appears to form part of the longstanding and well-documented repression of people doing such work in Greece and at the EU’s borders.'
Following the tribunal’s decision, Human Rights Watch urged Greece to revoke the arrest warrant and withdraw all charges. Eva Cossé, senior Europe researcher, said: 'The court’s decision not to extradite Tommy Olsen is a victory for the work of human rights defenders, and a direct rebuff to Greece’s attempt to export its crackdown on dissent. Olsen remains at risk of politically motivated prosecution and extradition as long as Greece’s European arrest warrant remains in force.'
Lawyer Kesses told the Guardian it was imperative that Olsen be given his day in court in Greece to prove his innocence. 'We will now be pushing for a trial to take place as soon as possible,' he said, adding that Olsen would be tried in absentia. 'The indictment against him is part of a much wider trend in which Greek police judicially harass human rights defenders, for courts to eventually find them innocent.'
Greece has yet to respond to the judgment. More than 600 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2026, according to the UN.
