In the Iuventa trial in Trapani, ten sea rescuers have been charged with allegedly “aiding and abetting irregular immigration”. Today saw a U-turn. Their ship could also be returned soon.
After a preliminary hearing lasting almost three years, the closing arguments in the trial against the crew of the rescue ship “Iuventa” began today. The four defendants in Trapani, Sicily, face up to 20 years in prison for allegedly “aiding and abetting irregular immigration”. On Saturday, the judges intend to announce whether a trial will be opened in the case or whether the defendants will be acquitted.
At today’s hearing, however, the Public Prosecutor’s Office also called for the trial to be dropped “because the offence does not constitute a crime”.
The crew of the “Iuventa” was accused of collaborating with Libyan smugglers. This was claimed by three ex-police officers who had been hired as security personnel on another rescue ship. Because with their statements they were obviously seeking rehabilitation in the police service, the judiciary now considers them untrustworthy.
In the entire complex of proceedings, 21 people are on trial at five locations. 10 of them are being tried in Trapani, including members of the crew of the “Vos Hestia” from Save the Children and the “Vos Prudence” from Médecins Sans Frontières.
According to the defendants, this is the largest and most expensive trial against civilian sea rescuers. Numerous observers are therefore travelling to the finale, including from the office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Mary Lawlor. She considers the trial to be a “stain on Italy and on human rights in the EU”.
EU candidate Lea Reisner is following the trial on behalf of The Left. “I am in Trapani to support the movement against the criminalisation of flight and flight assistance,” said Reisner, who has already travelled on a rescue ship several times herself, before her departure.
The “Iuventa”, operated by the Berlin-based organisation “Jugend Rettet”, was one of the first ships to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean in 2016. Since August 2017, the authorities have left the “Iuventa”, which had taken around 14,000 people on board by then, to rot in the harbour of Trapani. Today, the Public Prosecutor’s Office also demanded its return.
Published in German in „nd“.
Image: Until its seizure in summer 2017, the “Iuventa” had taken around 14,000 people on board. Now it is rotting in the harbour of Trapani.