German sea rescue ship "Humanity 1" detained in Italy
According to SOS Humanity, the Italian authorities have detained the German aid organization's sea rescue ship. The ship "Humanity 1" was taken out of service by the authorities in the southern Italian city of Crotone on Saturday evening following a rescue operation in the central Mediterranean, the organization announced. The blockade is therefore valid for 20 days and a fine has also been imposed. The Italian coastguard did not initially provide any official information on the matter.
According to SOS Humanity, the crew of the "Humanity 1" was informed of the arrest after rescuing around 200 boat migrants from distress at sea on Saturday and bringing them ashore in the port city in Calabria. The authorities accuse the organization of having previously ignored the instructions of the Libyan coast guard to leave the area during a rescue operation.
According to the German organization, 46 people who were already in the water were rescued during the operation. The Italian authorities, on the other hand, claim that the crew was responsible for the boat migrants fleeing from the Libyan coastguard and jumping into the water. SOS Humanity denies the allegations and has announced that it intends to take legal action.
Civilian sea rescuers are a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government. With a law that provides for fines and penalties for alleged violations, she has tightened the crackdown on them. Aid organizations criticize that this prevents them from rescuing people in distress at sea.
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The German sea rescue vessel "Humanity 1" and its crew, who had rescued over 200 migrants in distress in the central Mediterranean, faced detention in Italy following the operation. The Italian authorities accused the organization of disregarding the instructions of the Libyan coast guard during a previous rescue operation.
Despite the Italian authorities' claims, SOS Humanity strongly denies the allegations and has plans to initiate legal action, stressing their commitment to the principles of humanity and saving lives at sea.
Source: www.ntv.de
