Charges against rescuers from Luventa rescue ship dropped

Charges against rescuers from Luventa rescue ship have been dropped.

Seebrüecke International disclosed this while calling for freedom of the El Hiblu 3 waiting in Malta.

Yesterday, Seebrüecke International said: “following the defence’s closing arguments, the decision on the case against the sea rescuers from the Iuventa rescue ship accused in Italy was postponed until 19 April.

“After seven years since the start of the investigation and almost two years of preliminary hearings, the public prosecutor’s office surprisingly called for the charges to be dropped last Wednesday.”

Continuing, Seebrüecke International said: “The court must recognise on 19 April that the actions of the iuventa crew were lawful and in accordance with international obligations and their fundamental rights!

“At the end of yesterday’s trial day, the iuventa crew drew attention to the criminalisation of flight.

“The El Hiblu 3 are waiting in Malta for their decision in the preliminary hearings, the Moria 6 will have their appeal hearing on 4 March in Lesbos and Homayoun, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison, has his appeal hearing on 22 April.

The criminalisation of people on the move often takes place away from the media attention – it is all the more important that we as civil society draw attention to these cases!

Stop the criminalisation of flight and sea rescue! We demand: #FreeElHiblu3, #FreeMoria6, #FreeHomayoun, #FreeIuventa #FreeThemAll!”