Dimitris Choulis is a criminal defence and human rights lawyer based in Samos, Greece. For more than a decade, he has defended asylum seekers and refugees who face prosecution simply for seeking safety. Since 2010, he has challenged the misuse of criminal law against people on the move, advocating for their fundamental rights and protection under national and international law.
In 2020, Dimitris Choulis co‑founded the Human Rights Legal Project to provide strategic legal aid and litigation, and to hold authorities accountable for systemic human rights abuses at EU borders. His work includes defending individuals in cases of unlawful detention, denial of protection, and criminalisation, as well as bringing urgent matters before the European Court of Human Rights.Because of his commitment to defending vulnerable people and calling out human rights violations by the State, Dimitris Choulis has faced targeting and intimidation from Greek authorities, including investigations and attempts to discredit him. However, all charges have been dismissed or he has been acquitted. These incidents reflect the pressure and challenges faced by lawyers defending human rights in Greece.
