Screening of "142 Years" by Stelios Kouloglou

The Creative Documentary Centre and the Anti-Fascist Movement of Kalamata invite you to the screening of the documentary 142 Years on Saturday, April 27th, at 19:30 at the "Theodoros Aggelopoulos" Amphitheatre at the Kalamata Labour Centre, in the presence of its director Stelios Kouloglou.

The documentary highlights an unknown side of the refugees, where thousands of refugees and migrants are sentenced to heavy prison terms as traffickers. According to official figures, over 2,000 are in Greek prisons – making them the second largest group of prisoners. The camera follows rescuer Jason Apostolopoulos, internationally known and awarded for his humanitarian work, who participates in an international effort to exonerate three refugees, namely, Mohammad Hanad Abdi (Somalia), Akif Razouli and Amir Zahiri (Afghanistan). All three were found to be convicted traffickers, as, while on board a ship from Turkey to Greece, they were forced by the real traffickers to take the helm of the boat – a practice well known to the Hellenic Coast Guard. According to Law 4251/2014, anyone caught at the helm of a vessel is convicted of being a trafficker – but very often, as it turns out, wrongly, and after summary trials that last a few minutes and where the accused do not have sufficient interpretation. With these Greek court tactics, Mohammad Hanad Abdi was sentenced to 142 years in prison. Akif Rajuly and Amir Zahiri, at 50 years each. The legal thriller unfolds over a year, documenting trials postponed several times and the emotional reactions of the convicted and their relatives. After two years in prison, the appeals are finally being heard, giving them and their lawyers the chance for the first time to refute the charges and prove there is no evidence against them. What will happen in the end?

A discussion with the director on the issue of traffickers and refugees will follow the screening.

The contributors of the documentary "142 Years":
Director/script/producer: Stelios Kouloglou
Director of Photography: Xenofontas Vardaros
Editing: Gogo Bebelou
Music: Mimis Nikolopoulos
Year of Production: 2024
Duration: 74'

Admission is by donation as part of the Palestine tribute, with proceeds supporting Palestinian artists.