Igor Markov, the policeman who shot and killed Fatmata, is guilty.
This is the verdict of the appellate court. However. His sentence is one year in prison – suspended. Unless he commits another crime in the next three years, he will never go to prison. A 23-year-old innocent woman is dead, our Fatmata, and the man who killed her goes home.
Condemned, but effectively acquitted.
When Fatmata was shot and killed by Igor Markov, Abu Bakar held his dying wife and was then lied to, handcuffed, and locked away – not even allowed to say goodbye. When the police offered him to be let go and just forget everything, he said no: "I want truth and justice for my wife."
Because of Abu Bakar's courage – and the strength of Mariatu, Fatmata's mother, as well as her sisters – there was an investigation. There was a trial. When the first verdict acquitted the policeman, they didn't stop. Now, for the first time, a court has said what we have known since April 19th, 2023: what happened to Fatmata was a crime.
That matters. It matters enormously. No one can say this didn't happen. No one can say it wasn't wrong.
But guilty – and free to go home? He was not even banned from working in the police or using guns. There will be an appeal to the Supreme Court, and if the sentence will not be just, Fatmata’s family has already said that they are resolute: they want to take this to the European Court of Human Rights.
For now, we wanted you – the thousands of people who have followed Fatmata’s story, sent messages to Fatmata's family, and refused to let her be forgotten – to know.
As Abu said: "The fight for my wife's memory, the fight for Justice for Fatmata, is the fight for all of the people who are forced to travel and don't have a voice."
#JusticeForFatmata
On April 19, 2023, Fatmata was fatally shot by a North Macedonian border police officer as she and her husband, Abu Bakar, crossed from Greece.
Hearing his wife scream and seeing her taken in an ambulance, Abu was lied to and detained, receiving no news about his dying wife. The police then offered Abu to forget everything and be dropped at the border to ‘get to Europe.’ Abu refused, continuing to seek #JusticeForFatmata
The officer was indicted – the final hearing is on July 1 at the Skopje Criminal Courts. This is the 13th time Abu will stand in court, waiting for his wife’s life to be recognised.
The media labels her ‘a young migrant’ killed by police, but global support is keeping Fatmata’s memory alive, preventing her from becoming an anonymous victim of European border violence whose graves remain unmarked and unseen by their families. Stories like Fatmata’s happen often but go unheard.
On World Refugee Day, as on every other day, we want to reiterate that freedom of movement cannot be a privilege.
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Il 19 aprile 2023, Fatmata è stata uccisa da un agente della polizia di frontiera della Macedonia del Nord, che le ha sparato mentre attraversava il confine con la Grecia insieme al marito Abu Bakar.
Dopo aver sentito le urla della moglie e averla vista portare via in ambulanza, Abu è stato riempito di menzogne e rinchiuso senza avere notizie della moglie morente. In seguito, la polizia gli ha proposto di dimenticare tutto ed essere accompagnato al confine per “entrare in Europa”: Abu ha rifiutato e continua a chiedere giustizia per Fatmata.
L’agente che ha sparato è stato incriminato e l’udienza conclusiva del processo si terrà il 1° luglio al tribunale penale di Skopjie. Anche se i media la descrivono come “una giovane migrante” uccisa dalla polizia, la solidarietà mondiale sta mantenendo viva la memoria di Fatmata, impedendo che diventi un’altra vittima anonima della violenza ai confini dell’Europa, le cui tombe restano ignote e irraggiungibili ai loro familiari. Storie come quella di Fatmata succedono spesso, ma rimangono inascoltate.
Nella Giornata mondiale del Rifugiato, vogliamo ricordare che la libertà di movimento non può essere un privilegio.
Fatmata is dead. She was shot, by police, in North Macedonia on Wednesday. She had just crossed the border from Greece, the country that had denied her asylum, making her invisible, a non person.
But she was a person. She was warm, enthusiastic and joyful. If you didn’t know, you would never have guessed she lived in a refugee camp. She was 23. She was movingly full of life: always willing to share her strength and energy, and, especially, to dance. Oh, did she love dancing. She would dance and sing “to the top of her voice”, as her sister Bintia put it. Imagine her like this, because it is the way we will remember her. She was part of the Second Tree community.
She was also very, very in love with her husband, Abu Bakar. They had known each other since they were kids, and often called one another “my everything”. They were so visibly into each other that often we would jokingly comment: "I hope I find someone that loves me like that!". Two months before being killed, Fatmata told Abu Bakar that she was pregnant. They didn’t have papers or money, so they never had a test. He still doesn't know if their first child died with his wife.
Abu Bakar was with Fatmata when she was shot. She shouted his name. Then he begged for help. The video of Abu Bakar hugging Fatmata, while she is on the floor, dying of a gunshot wound – crying her name in vain – is just emptying.
He was then handcuffed, driven several hours away, held in detention for a day without news of his wife. Then he was offered to be dropped at the border, to move on to Serbia. Of course, he wanted to stay: “I want justice for Fatmata”, he said.
Giovanni and Juliette from our team are now with Abu Bakar in North Macedonia. He still doesn't know where Fatmata’s body is, and has been asking to see her since they were separated. He now has a lawyer, and the resolution to seek justice. We will do what we can to support him and Fatmata’s family.
Abu Bakar chose the picture that accompanies this post. He took it when they left, as a memory to keep. Right after taking it, Fatmata told him: “now all doors seem closed, but another door will open for us. The future will be good”.
Fai pagare la pizza allo Stato! 🍕
Per bambini profughi come Nursin (8 anni, dalla Siria) e Ali (15 anni, dall’Afghanistan) il tuo 5x1000 può significare farsi nuovi amici, andare in gita fuori dalle mura del campo profughi, e mangiare più pizza di quanta tre bambini ne possano digerire (anche se qui potremmo discutere): tutto questo grazie ai nostri Youth Programme.
Il 5x1000 non ti costa niente! È solo una quota delle tasse che devi comunque pagare, e che puoi devolvere a un’organizzazione no-profit di tua scelta.
Dal 14 maggio potrai modificare il tuo modulo 730: non dimenticare di aggiungere Second Tree! Abbiamo già la lista delle pizze da ordinare: ci serve solo la tua firma. Link in bio.🔗
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Let the state cover the pizza! 🍕
For refugee kids like Nursin (8, Syria) & Ali (15, Afghanistan), your 5x1000 could mean new friendships, trips beyond the isolated refugee camp walls, & more pizza than 3 kids can handle (debatable) – through our Youth Programmes.
5x1000 doesn’t cost you a thing! It's just a share of taxes you already pay, redirected to a non-profit of your choice.
Your Modulo 730 is editable from 14th May – don’t forget to add Second Tree! The pizza order is ready; we just need your signature. Link in bio.🔗
#5x1000 #pizza #refugeesarepeople #bastapoco #profughi #amicizie #youthprogramme
Three years without our Fatmata. She was 23 when a policeman shot and killed her. She would be 26 now. Her husband, Abu Bakar, used to call her "my everything"; now he calls for justice in her name: #JusticeForFatmata.
On the morning this picture was taken, Fatmata said to Abu, "Now all doors seem closed, but another door will open for us. The future will be good." But Igor Markov, a North Macedonian policeman, shot her. She died in Abu's arms, calling his name.
In the three years she has been gone, we’ve held her as she was that morning: certain, hopeful, in love.
For the first time, a court has said what we have known since the 19th of April, 2023: what happened to Fatmata was a crime. The officer who killed her has been found guilty, but the sentence was suspended. Her family will take the fight on, all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if they must.
Today, Mariatu, Bintia, Fatmata, Yankare, Cariatu and the rest of the family are visiting her grave in Freetown, Sierra Leone, mourning the loss of their daughter, sister, friend.
Abu once told us his only wish was that the world would know. Mariatu asked that the world not forget her. So, if you want to, leave a message for her family in the comments – they read every one.
We miss you, Fatmata.
Ten years ago today, Giovanni packed his car & drove to Katsikas refugee camp. He didn't have a plan. He didn't think he would create a humanitarian organisation, Second Tree.
On the five-year anniversary, he wrote that helping others was "The best way to be selfish".
Today, on the tenth anniversary, he's published a new piece for @il_post – trying to answer a harder version of the same question. What happens when the cost of caring about people becomes impossible to ignore, & you keep caring anyway?
The full piece is on Il Post, link in bio!
📣 FINAL CALL: Only 2 days left to vote!
At Second Tree, community is what we value the most. We work to build inclusive spaces in which nobody feels ‘the other’, valuing each individual in their complexity.✨
From our partnership coordinator Mattia, to our little students in the Scouts Programme…from our new Self-Advocacy students Ibrahim & Moheldin, to our Programmes Manager Juliette… follow their example &🏃♀️RUN to vote for Second Tree’s video for Project For Awesome 2026!
Here’s how:
1️⃣ Check out our video on the Project For Awesome website, /videos/vote-for-second-tree-project-for-awesome-26 🔗
2️⃣Sign in to vote & check your inbox to confirm your email address.
3️⃣ Go back to the website & hit the big VOTE button! ✅
Every click counts! 🌱💪
#ProjectForAwesome #Vote #SupportUs #SecondTree #RefugeesArePeople #SelfAdvocacy #Community #Impact #p4a
Stop scrolling & start voting! 🗳️
Our video for @projectforawesome is now live – see what our Self-Advocacy classes look like inside the refugee camps we work in, & vote to help ensure refugees are equipped to stand up for their rights throughout 2026 & beyond. 💪
If that hasn't convinced you, here are some behind-the-scenes bloopers from the filming! 🎥
Link in bio. 🔗
#ProjectForAwesome #Vote #SupportUs #WeAreSecondTree #RefugeesArePeople #SelfAdvocacy #Bloopers
SOUND ON! 🔊
This year, we've entered @projectforawesome fundraiser with our Self-Advocacy programme! ✨
Designed & run entirely by us in refugee camps in Greece, our Self-Advocacy training helps refugees understand their rights, communicate with people in power, & escalate problems strategically – giving them the tools to advocate for themselves. 💪
In the video, teacher Mima speaks about how the programme works, while Omar, Sesay, & Kamal share what Self-Advocacy has meant for them – from the challenges they faced arriving in Greece to the confidence they now have in their agency, skills, & independence. 🌱
"You know who you are & you know your value." That's what Kamal says about what he learnt from the course. 💭
Watch our video & vote for Second Tree! Winning means we can keep Self-Advocacy running through 2026 & beyond. 🙌
Link to Project for Awesome in our bio. 🔗
#ProjectForAwesome #Project4Awesome2026 #vote #supportus #RefugeesArePeople #SelfAdvocacy #community #WeAreSecondTree #p4a
They say integration has no age limit. 🫂
If you've never heard that expression before, it's because we just made it up – inspired by an invitation from the elderly community of our local Greek village, Loggades! 💌
Along with kids from our youth programmes in Katsikas & Agia Eleni refugee camps, we joined them to make arts & crafts, cut cake & welcome in the New Year together – an authentic Greek affair.
Vasilis, the stern-faced bus driver, smiled as kids bounced behind their teachers in single file, towards a group of beaming Yiayias (grannies) welcoming us to their space. 🚌
Sitting down in little groups, we welcomed each elderly arrival with a high-pitched "KALI CHRONIA" (happy new year)! The Grandmas replied by stuffing us full of cake & fussing over us all.
After a round of speeches, a red-faced Barzan – nudged on by his pals – gingerly rose from his seat, turned to his aged audience & announced, "Efcharistó!" (thank you!) to roaring applause.
11-year-old Havva then teamed up with 80-year-old Despoina to craft crowns & decorations together. 👑
For a few hours, everyone had someone to teach & someone to learn from. Two isolated communities coming together – kids who rarely leave the refugee camp, & elders with traditions to pass on & love to spare.
Donate today to help us continue replacing isolation with #connection. Link in bio ☝️
A special Efkharistó (thank you) to Professor Markoula and the Municipality of Ioannina for introducing us to our new friends!
#WeAreSecondTree #RefugeesArePeople #YouthProgramme #Yiayia #RefugeeCamp #Community #FightIsolation
In 2016, some volunteers walked into Katsikas refugee camp & made a simple decision: to show up.
🌳 That was the start of Second Tree.
But what we found changed how we thought about what 'doing something' really means.
🤝 Since then, we've learnt that real community isn't built by 'helping' people – it's built with them. It's a two-way street: the way society sees refugees shapes what's possible for them, & the way refugees see themselves & their new community shapes what's possible for everyone.
We're trying to build something where everyone contributes, & everyone has a say. It doesn't happen on its own – it takes work, & it takes people.
🥾 Maybe this is your first step. Link in bio to join our team!
#RefugeesArePeople #TakeTheFirstStep #RefugeeRights #WeAreSecondTree #KhaledHosseini
👏 That's a wrap on our Christmas campaign!
To everyone who donated, shared, & followed along – THANK YOU!
Across 3 refugee camps in Greece, we are the only organisation providing children with education. Thanks to your support, the children in our Youth Programme can continue to dream big – discovering their passions, exploring their talents, & shaping their futures their way.
📣 We'll be back soon with our total donation amount.
Bring on 2026! 💛
#ThankYou #OurCommunity #YouthProgramme #NewYear #RefugeesArePeople #Solidarity
