The OpenArms released. Order of the Judge of Ragusa
(B2) A judge in Ragusa (Sicily) on Monday canceled the sequestration of the ship of the Spanish NGO Proactiva, Open Arms, stranded since mid-March at the port of Pozzalo in Sicily due to suspicions of aid to the illegal immigration (read: Open Arms Sea Relief Operation. Have all the rules been followed? Who is telling the truth?).
The state of necessity recognized as a motive for action
The judge argued that Libya was "not not yet able to re-welcome rescued migrants with respect for their fundamental rights and considered that the NGO had therefore acted in state of necessity ". " This is only a first step and good news. The Open Arms is released, but the investigations of the public prosecutor's office of Catania for criminal association and that of Ragusa for aiding illegal immigration continue “, commented on Twitter Oscar Camps, the founder of the NGO.
Out of a dozen NGO boats, 2 or 3 survivors
A year ago, a dozen NGO ships were patrolling off Libya. Now there are only two left:Aquarius of SOS Méditerranée and Doctors Without Borders and the Sea Watch of the eponymous German NGO. I'Open Arms was the second seized by the Italian courts after the Iuventa of the German NGO Jugend Rettet last summer (read: NGO Jugend Rettet ship forced to leave central Mediterranean). Other NGOs have suspended their operations due to the growing threats from the Libyan Navy and the drop in departures (-60% since summer 2017).
(NGV with AFP)
Read our fact check:
- Off Libya, has Europe changed its position?
- Open Arms Sea Relief Operation. Have all the rules been followed? Who is telling the truth?
