HCoastGuard threatens to arrest the captain  crew if they disembark distressed people  in Crete

HCoastGuard has threatened to arrest the captain and  crew of a ship  if they disembark distressed people  in Crete, Greece.

Alarmphone disclosed this in a post decrying the predicaments of the distressed people.

The post reads: “🆘 from a boat in distress carrying 35 people from #Sudan! They were heading toward #Crete. We alerted authorities & two merchant vessels nearby. #Egypt ordered another merchant vessel to search for the people, but they fear to be brought to Egypt, which is not a safe place!

The group has been rescued by the crew of the merchant vessel NEXUS. Instead of allowing them to disembark the group in a safe harbour of #Crete, the  @HCoastGuard threatens to arrest the captain & crew if they do so.”

Knowing that Libya is not a safe place, Alarm Phone said “the captain does not want to bring the group there. The group has fled, risking their lives, to seek safety in #Europe. We pressure the #Greek coast guard to allow the vessel to disembark in Crete!

The people remain on board the merchant vessel, which continues to face pressure to return the people to #Libya since the @HCoastGuard refuse safe disembarkation on #Crete! The people would face grave human rights violations in Libya. They need to be taken to a safe port now!”

Alarm Phone noted that the group still remains on the vessel, adding: “We are in contact with the captain, who reports that #Greece, #Italy and #Malta refuse responsibility and are in favor of forcing people back to #Libya. After huge pressure from the company SUPER BARU, the ship is now heading to Libya.”