Med: Italy Steps up Criminalisation of the Civil Fleet as Dozens Die at Sea
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The crack down on the civil fleet by Italian authorities has intensified on several fronts over the course of the past two weeks. Criminal investigations were opened against parties involved in the rescue of 27 survivors in August 2020 that was followed by the longest stand-off in recent European maritime history. Following the closure of investigations related to the Iuventa rescue ship, Italian authorities have charged 21 individuals and 3 organisations of aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The Sea Watch 4 civil rescue ship, operated by Sea Watch International, was finally released after six months of seizure by Italian authorities, while the case is still pending before the European Court of Justice. Its sister ship Sea Watch 3, also recently released after a seven months blockade, rescued 363 people in distress between 26 and 28 February and more than 400 people were rescued by the civil rescue ship Aita Mari and two commercial vessels the week before. Despite the lack of cooperation by Italian and Maltese authorities all survivors finally disembarked in Sicily. Over the past two weeks, dozens of people have lost their lives in the Western and Central Mediterranean, bringing this year's death toll to at least 234 people. In the same period, more than 4,000 people were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya where they face arbitrary detention and abuse.