Pieter Wittenberg
A skipper who could not ignore drowning people at sea. Greece charged him with people smuggling. On 15 January 2026, after eight years, he was acquitted.
Documentary · 45 min
From Compassion to Crime
What happens when helping your fellow human being becomes a crime?
Synopsis
Europe is tightening its borders — and with it, the boundaries of what is considered criminal. Not only refugees, but also citizens, journalists and volunteers who offer help are increasingly confronted with prosecution, intimidation and lengthy court cases.
From Compassion to Crime follows three people who put their humanity above the rules and paid a heavy price:
Ingeborg Beugel
Dutch journalist and long-time correspondent in Greece. She was prosecuted for her publications and for sheltering a young Afghan refugee. She was acquitted on appeal.
Tommy Olsen
Runs a 24/7 emergency line for refugees at sea and documents illegal pushbacks. He is accused of people smuggling and membership of a criminal organisation.
The film shows how humanitarian aid and journalism are coming under pressure in a Europe that increasingly places security and deterrence above protection and human rights.
In 2023 alone, 117 Europeans were prosecuted for helping refugees. The documentary shows not only figures, but above all the personal stories behind this development.
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What Viewers Say
"What moved me most was seeing how inhumanely refugees are treated, through pushbacks but also after arriving on land. And yet the people who helped them have no regrets and continue to find ways to help."— Eline
"It changed my perspective and made me realize how important it is to look beyond the stories we usually hear. What struck me most is that you get a much stronger sense of the person behind the status 'refugee'. It made the story more personal and gave me a much more human picture of reality than I had before."— Jasmijn
In the Press
Pakhuis de Zwijger
Niet schuldig, maar wel gestraft ↗An in-depth article about the eight-year trial of 24 humanitarian workers on Lesbos and the broader implications of Europe's criminalisation of solidarity.
STIL Utrecht
Kans op 20 jaar cel voor helpen medemens ↗"In het ergste geval kan hij twintig jaar cel krijgen", zegt Stanzen Leh Jelsma. Ze maakte een documentaire over deze man en twee anderen die in Griekenland vervolgd worden.
Pieter Wittenberg (1947–2026)
Photo: © Family of Pieter Wittenberg
In Memory of Pieter Wittenberg
Pieter Wittenberg, one of the protagonists featured in From Compassion to Crime, passed away on Friday 13 March, almost two months after his acquittal on 15 January. Shortly after his acquittal, Wittenberg was diagnosed with 'a serious, rapidly progressing illness with a very limited life expectancy', according to Ebel Jan van Dijk, Wittenberg's spokesperson, in a press release.
I followed Pieter for a long period of time while making this documentary, and his story became one of the central narratives of the film.
For eight years Pieter lived in legal uncertainty because of his involvement in helping people arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos. Despite this, he remained remarkably calm, humorous and determined. He believed that helping people in distress was simply the right thing to do.
When asked how he felt about the possibility of being convicted, his answer was disarmingly simple. With a quiet smile he would often say:
"Then I will take a big book with me and start reading."
That his story is now preserved in the film feels both meaningful and painful. His voice, his conviction and his example continue to live on.
Pieter's life was marked by a deep moral compass and a profound sense of responsibility for others. He shared his warmth, time and wisdom generously with the people around him and remained committed to standing up for those in need.
Those who knew him remember a man of love, knowledge and quiet strength, someone who lived his life with courage, humor and integrity.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and by everyone who encountered his story.
In memory of Pieter Wittenberg (1947–2026)
Parts of this memorial text are based on words shared by the family of Pieter Wittenberg.
Film Stills
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Tommy Olsen walking through snow in Norway
Selected Screenings
1 June 2026
Radical Dialogues, Nijmegen
Upcoming screening as part of the Radical Dialogues programme.
6 May 2026
Rotary Club, Houten
Public screening followed by discussion.
4 October 2025
Premiere — ZIMIHC Zuilen, Utrecht
Premiere screening of From Compassion to Crime.
For the complete overview of upcoming and past screenings, panel discussions and talks, visit the events page.
Interested in screening From Compassion to Crime at your festival, university or organisation?