A seven-year legal case against migrant rescuers in Italy has ended with all charges against them being dropped. They'd been accused of aiding illegal migration, but activists said it was an attempt to stop aid workers from helping those on the high seas.

Catania

A legal battle spanning over seven years concerning the activities of migrant rescuers in Italy has concluded, with a court deciding to drop all charges against the accused. They had been facing allegations related to aiding illegal migration. Activists have argued that the legal challenges were aimed at preventing aid workers from conducting rescue operations on the high seas.

The case was formally dismissed by a court in Sicily, following a surprising motion from the prosecution to abandon the charges. This legal ordeal had involved accusations of collaboration with human traffickers, resulting in extensive criminal charges, wiretapping, and undercover investigations against NGO workers. The defendants celebrated the court's decision, stating that it affirmed their stance that saving lives at sea is both a duty and a right, rather than a criminal act.

This legal scrutiny came against the backdrop of Italy's stringent measures against migrant rescue initiatives that began in 2016, amidst a significant refugee crisis. Notably, the Juventus ship, which had been instrumental in rescuing over 14,000 refugees and migrants in distress, was seized by police. The defendants pointed out that their vessel was the first to be impeded and confiscated under these crackdown measures, but it was far from the last, as subsequent missions faced similar obstacles.

The backdrop of this case includes Italy's restrictions on charity-operated rescue missions, including prohibitions on performing consecutive rescues and requirements for ships to dock at distant Mediterranean ports. These measures have forced rescue crews to navigate between responding to emergencies and adhering to the law. Additionally, the European Union's engagement with Libyan coast guards—who have faced UN sanctions for allegations of people trafficking and human rights abuses—highlights complex international efforts to manage border control.

The tragic human cost of migration is underscored by data from the Missing Migrants Project, which indicates that nearly 30,000 people have died or gone missing over the past decade during their perilous journey to Europe. A cemetery on the Greek island of Lesbos stands as a solemn tribute to those lost at sea, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by thousands.



Court challenge against migrant rescues thrown out

Case dismissed. Accused of colluding with human traffickers, these NGO workers have faced seven years of criminal charges, wiretapping and undercover investigations. On Friday, a court in Sicily followed the prosecution's surprise request for the case to be thrown out. The defendants say this is a victory and that saving lives is not a crime. Today, the court made it perfectly clear that our intervention at sea were not a crime. They were our duty, but also our right. Italy began to crack down on migrant rescue missions back in 2016, at the height of the refugee crisis. Police seized the Juventus ship after it rescued more than 14,000 refugees and migrants in distress. The case, which accused migrant workers of coordinating with Libyan smugglers, lasted for years and cost more than $3 million. We were the first ship to be blocked and to be seized. But after us, there were a lot of other ships blocked and they find always new methods to do this. Italian authorities have since banned charities from performing several rescues in a row and often demand their ships dock at distant ports along the Mediterranean, forcing crews to decide between responding to distress calls or breaching the law. Meanwhile, the EU has outsourced parts of its border control, partnering with Libyan coastguards sanctioned by the UN for people trafficking and human rights violations. Nearly 30,000 people have died or gone missing in the last 10 years, according to the Missing Migrants Project. On the Greek island of Lesbos, this cemetery pays tribute to those lost at sea, a reminder of the perilous journey thousands more are taking. Iptisem Genfood, Al Jazeera.

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