An Italian court has mandated the government to compensate the migrant rescue NGO Sea-Watch with $89,000 due to the unlawful detention of their vessel, Sea-Watch 3, in 2019. This incident was a significant confrontation between humanitarian organizations and the administration of then-interior minister Matteo Salvini, who aimed to restrict port access for migrants.
The situation unfolded in June 2019 when Sea-Watch 3 rescued a group of migrants off the coast of Libya and attempted to reach Lampedusa, the nearest safe port. Despite Salvini’s orders to close the port to the vessel, Sea-Watch 3 entered the harbor, resulting in a minor collision with a Guardia di Finanza patrol boat. The vessel’s captain, Carola Rackete, faced criminal charges for her actions, and the ship was detained until December 2019. Although Rackete’s case was ultimately dismissed, legal issues persisted for years.
Following a lengthy civil trial in Palermo, the court ruled in favor of Sea-Watch, prompting an outraged response from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who criticized the decision as politically motivated. She reiterated her commitment to curbing migrant arrivals. Meanwhile, the Palermo court defended its ruling against public criticism, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.
On the same day, a separate court in Catania ordered the release of Sea-Watch’s latest vessel, Sea-Watch 5, which had faced detention for failing to report its position to Libyan authorities, amid ongoing tensions between NGOs and Libyan first responders.
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