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.
Read also:
- Head of the Green parliamentary group rails against Merz in the citizens' income debate
- Police call for more cameras at Christmas markets
- Change in "The Bachelor": RTL sends two single men into the race at once
Source: www.ntv.de
