A Greek court on Thursday acquitted Syrian competitive swimmer and activist Sarah Mardini, whose rescue of her sister inspired a hit Netflix film, and 23 others of migrant trafficking in a decision applauded by top rights groups.

Axar.az informs, citing France 24, they had been charged in the Greek island with "forming a criminal organisation" and "illegally facilitating the entry of third-country nationals into Greece".

"All defendants are acquitted of the charges" because their aim was "not to commit criminal acts but to provide humanitarian aid", presiding judge Vassilis Papathanassiou told the court.

"Saving human lives is not a crime," an emotional Mardini said after the verdict. "We never did anything illegal because if helping people is a crime, then we are all criminals."

In 2018, Mardini was part of a group of volunteer activists with the NGO ERCI trying to help migrants reach the island of Lesbos from Turkiye.

She was arrested at the time and spent three months in prison in Greece.

The 2022 Netflix film "The Swimmers" is inspired by the story of Mardini and her sister Yusra, who was one of 10 athletes who competed in the Rio Olympics for a Refugee Team.