Javed Aslam has spent 20 years defending migrant and labour rights in Greece. As President of the Pakistani Community of Greece, he has become a leading advocate for migrant communities and workers’ rights.
In March 2026, Greek authorities revoked his refugee status after repeated attempts to end his legal status and residence in the country.
The decision appears linked to his human rights and community work. Authorities failed to show that he would be safe if returned to Pakistan. They also failed to consider his long-established life in Greece.
Greek authorities must restore Javed Aslam’s refugee status and stop any deportation proceedings against him.
Here’s what you can do:
Write to Minister of Migration & Asylum urging him to:
- restore his international protection status or grant him an alternative secure status.
- immediately halt any deportation proceedings.
Write to:
Mr. Thanos Plevris
Minister of Migration & Asylum
Thivon Avenue 196-198
182 33 Ag. Ioannis Rentis,Nikaia, Greece
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Minister Plevris,
And Copy:
Her Excellency Ekaterini Dimakis
Ambassador
Embassy of the Hellenic Republic
80 MacLaren Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0K6
Tel: (613) 238-6271, (613) 292-2120 Fax: (613) 238-5676
Email: [email protected]
Long-time advocate for migrant and labour rights
Javed Aslam, 58, has lived in Greece for nearly 30 years and has spent two decades serving as President of the Pakistani Community of Greece. He is widely known for defending migrant and labour rights.
Greek and Pakistani authorities have targeted him several times over the years. In 2007, Pakistani authorities sought his extradition over allegations linked to illegal migration and human trafficking. The requests came after he supported six Pakistani nationals in Greece who said Greek intelligence agents had abducted them in 2005.
Amnesty International opposed his extradition because of concerns that he could face serious human rights violations if returned to Pakistan.
Ongoing targeting by Pakistani authorities
Pakistani authorities continued to publicly link Javed Aslam to these allegations in later years. In 2018, the Pakistani Embassy in Greece described him on Facebook as a “wanted criminal” and referred to an active Interpol Red Notice and efforts to deport him. Although related content has since been removed from the Embassy’s website, the Facebook post remains publicly accessible. According to his lawyer, information about the Interpol Red Notice stayed on the Embassy website until at least 2024.
Javed Aslam applied for international protection in Greece in 2019. Authorities first rejected his claim in 2020, but granted him refugee status on appeal in 2021. Greek authorities later attempted to revoke his status in 2021 and 2023 before finally terminating it in March 2026. The decision also included a return order.
Concerns over return to Pakistan
Greek authorities argued that conditions in Pakistan had improved and that Javed Aslam no longer needed international protection. Their decision pointed to Greece’s designation of Pakistan as a “Safe Country of Origin” and claimed there had been progress in Pakistan’s legal and judicial systems. Authorities also argued there was no evidence of ongoing criminal proceedings or active “wanted status” against him.
However, the decision does not show that the risks leading to his refugee status have meaningfully changed. It also ignores the long pattern of political targeting linked to his advocacy work. Greek authorities have not demonstrated that he would be protected from prosecution or other harm if returned to Pakistan.
Amnesty International has documented ongoing human rights violations in Pakistan, including enforced disappearances, torture, unfair trials, and restrictions on human rights defenders. Activists continue to face intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary detention, and prosecution under broad security and cybercrime laws. These conditions create serious risks for people involved in human rights advocacy.
Family life and non-refoulement obligations
Javed Aslam has built a private and family life in Greece over nearly three decades. His wife and daughter are both legal residents in the country. Revoking his refugee status and moving toward deportation would seriously affect his right to family life and his deep ties to Greece.
Regardless of the decision to end his refugee status, Greece remains bound by the principle of non-refoulement. Under international law, authorities cannot deport anyone to a country where they face a real risk of human rights violations.
Please take action as soon as possible until November 14, 2026. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.
