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Volunteers from the ship Iuventa saved thousands of migrant lives on the Mediterranean; now they cou
Source: ABC News
Volunteers from the ship Iuventa saved thousands of migrant lives on the Mediterranean; now they could face prison
By SARAH HUCAL BERLIN and ROME — Jun 20, 2019, 3:15 PM ET
-snip-
In just a year's time -- from July 2016 until August 2017 -- the Iuventa saved 14,000 lives, including Mohammed’s, according to the ship's records. But in 2017, Italian authorities seized the boat and launched a criminal investigation against 10 volunteers, accusing them of "aiding and abetting illegal migration" by coordinating directly with smugglers.
Trapani prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said in a press conference that the crew working aboard the Iuventa brought migrants aboard the ship who were escorted by Libyan traffickers, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The volunteers' electronic devices were seized and are currently being reviewed for proof of direct communication with traffickers. If the evidence is strong enough, the case will be pushed to court in Italy, most likely by the end of this year, according to the Iuventa's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini.
Iuventa representatives refute the charges, insisting that all rescue operations took place with permission of the Maritime Coordination Rescue Center in Rome as required, and claim the investigation is part of a “smear campaign” against search and rescue NGOs, according to a published statement. If the case goes to court, 10 volunteers, most of whom live in Germany, could face 20 years of jail time and fines of 15,000 euros per person rescued.
Human rights group Amnesty International also views the Iuventa's case as part of “a dangerous pattern of criminalizing people helping migrants and refugees in Europe.” Already, 250 individuals have been arrested, charged or investigated for providing shelter, food, transport to migrants without legal papers, according to a database put together by global news site openDemocracy, which compiled information from NGOs, researchers and activist groups.
-snip-
By SARAH HUCAL BERLIN and ROME — Jun 20, 2019, 3:15 PM ET
-snip-
In just a year's time -- from July 2016 until August 2017 -- the Iuventa saved 14,000 lives, including Mohammed’s, according to the ship's records. But in 2017, Italian authorities seized the boat and launched a criminal investigation against 10 volunteers, accusing them of "aiding and abetting illegal migration" by coordinating directly with smugglers.
Trapani prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said in a press conference that the crew working aboard the Iuventa brought migrants aboard the ship who were escorted by Libyan traffickers, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The volunteers' electronic devices were seized and are currently being reviewed for proof of direct communication with traffickers. If the evidence is strong enough, the case will be pushed to court in Italy, most likely by the end of this year, according to the Iuventa's lawyer, Nicola Canestrini.
Iuventa representatives refute the charges, insisting that all rescue operations took place with permission of the Maritime Coordination Rescue Center in Rome as required, and claim the investigation is part of a “smear campaign” against search and rescue NGOs, according to a published statement. If the case goes to court, 10 volunteers, most of whom live in Germany, could face 20 years of jail time and fines of 15,000 euros per person rescued.
Human rights group Amnesty International also views the Iuventa's case as part of “a dangerous pattern of criminalizing people helping migrants and refugees in Europe.” Already, 250 individuals have been arrested, charged or investigated for providing shelter, food, transport to migrants without legal papers, according to a database put together by global news site openDemocracy, which compiled information from NGOs, researchers and activist groups.
-snip-
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/International/volunteers-ship-iuventa-saved-thousands-migrant-lives-mediterranean/story?id=63696655
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