Game of Thrones cast members visit Greece, urge EU leaders to do more for Syrian refugees

LOS ANGELES — While Cersei Lannister, Davos Seaworth and Ayra Stark don’t often have much reason to appear together on Game of Thrones, actors Lena Headey, Liam Cunningham and Maisie Williams teamed up to visit Greece, where 57,000 Syrian refugees are currently stranded.

The actors took a break from the action of Westoros and partook in the trip with the international Rescue Committee, according to a release from the organisation and HBO. The trio urged European leaders to do more for the refugees after the EU-Turkey agreement, which many say has led to unfair and inhumane treatment.

They documented the trip on social media via the IRC and Game of Thrones Twitter accounts, appearing in videos to recount what they’ve seen. “We’ve met extraordinarily beautiful people,” says Cunningham in one video. “We now feel it’s our responsibility to take their stories and change the perception of these people,” added Williams. Headey called the trip “life-changing”, and promised that they would continue to speak out on the subject.

“These smart, hardworking people want to go home,” Headey said in a statement. “They want to return to their communities and to their neighbourhoods. They want their children to continue their education. They want to continue their university and they are stuck. They’re stuck. And they’re unbelievably sad. Understandably. We can do better for them. We must do better for them.”

“For me it is about the children...children with so much potential, so many hopes and dreams,” Williams said. “Where is the humanity that makes it acceptable for them to languish in refugee camps - in Europe?”

“This is not an earthquake, this is not a tidal wave,” added Cunningham. “This is a man-made crisis. 57,000 stranded in Greece. Refugee camps in Europe? Is this truly the standard EU leaders want to set as the way to respond to the global refugee crisis?”

The EU-Turkey agreement was made in effort to stem the flow of migrants into Europe, and allows Greece to send Syrians seeking asylum to Turkey. The agreement has been slammed by many, including the IRC and Amnesty International.

The season six finale of Game of Thrones aired last Sunday (June 26). Season seven will debut next year. VARIETY.COM/REUTERS