Three American students who were arrested on the Acropolis of Athens on October 17, 2021 for displaying a banner protesting the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and in defense of human rights were unanimously found not guilty on Thursday (11/17/11). ) 1st Criminal Court of Athens in Tibet, consisting of three members.

The decision contradicted the prosecutor’s submission that the students were guilty of polluting and changing the shape of the monument, which entails a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.

The case attracted international attention and was covered by international media such as Reuters and the British Guardian.

The student activists who gave the Chinese government a major headache were represented by Greek criminologist Alexis Anagnostakis and British lawyer Michael Polak.

Alexis Anagnostakis said the decision gives strength, hope and courage to human rights defenders in Tibet, Hong Kong and elsewhere who are fighting against existing occupation crimes and human rights violations.

American students chose the Acropolis of Athens as a symbol of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization. Their intention was to symbolically protect the democracy and freedom of the people of Tibet from the Greek Acropolis.