A French farmer, who has become a local hero for helping African migrants cross the border from Italy and giving them shelter, has gone on trial for aiding illegal arrivals, reports The Guardian.
Cédric Herrou is one of three people to appear before courts in southern France for assisting people fleeing to Europe.
The 37-year-old activist, accused of “helping undocumented foreigners enter, move about and reside” in France, faces up to five years in prison and a €30,000 (£25,500) fine if convicted.
Herrou’s olive farm sits in a valley on the border of Italy, near a popular route for migrants trying to slip past border controls.
He has been unapologetic about helping people travelling through Europe via the often perilous boat journey across the Mediterranean.
“If we have to break the law to help people, let’s do it!” he told supporters outside the Nice court on Wednesday, where a crowd of about 300 people gathered.
“Our role is to help people overcome danger, and the danger is this border,” he said, accusing French police of detaining “thousands” of minors and dumping them back across the border.
In October, Herrou led a group of activists who occupied a disused holiday village belonging to the SNCF state railway company and opened it up to a group of migrants.