Amnesty International Ireland's calling on the government to pressure Greece to stop the prosecution of an Irish aid worker who faces up to 25 years in jail.
Seán Binder, who grew up in Cork, is one of 24 people who volunteered at a rescue charity on the island of Lesbos facing trial in Athens on Thursday.
He flew there yesterday to meet the charges of people-smuggling, fraud and espionage -- which he denies and says are "ludicrous".
Colm O'Gorman from Amnesty Ireland says activists are facing political prosecution for doing the same lifesaving work as the Irish navy.
"The members and leaders of the Naval Service did really exemplary work, and it's to our very great credit as a country that they did so.
"But we have now seen dozens of prosecutions launched against individual and NGOs, for example Médecins Sans Frontières in Italy, France, Switzerland.
"We've seen this prosecution against Sean, and Sarah and others.
"Their lives are now on hold, their futures are at risk, simply because they showed compassion and humanity and solidarity to people in need."
