The wife of imprisoned seafarer Ali Albokhari is intensifying her quest for justice as her husband, a Syrian-born Finnish chief officer, serves a 30-year sentence in Turkey. Albokhari was convicted in September 2024 on drug charges related to the 2023 seizure of the bulk carrier Phoenician M in Eregli. Turkish authorities claimed to have found 137 kg of cocaine on board, despite Colombian officials having already confiscated the drugs before the ship departed Barranquilla.
While the ship’s Croatian captain, Marko Bekavac, and the rest of the crew have been released, Albokhari remains incarcerated. His wife, Elena, argues that the verdict was reached without proper disclosure of evidence or charges. She expressed her husband’s despair, stating, “He has lost hope. He is dead in there. He now sees no help,” during an interview with Human Rights at Sea (HRAS), which has created a short film to document her advocacy.
Recently, Elena took her campaign to London, meeting with representatives from the ITF, IMO, and HRAS to raise awareness of her husband’s situation. She hopes her efforts will prevent other families from experiencing similar hardships. HRAS founder David Hammond emphasized that Albokhari’s case underscores the broader issue of seafarer criminalization, requiring coordinated efforts across various sectors for resolution. Despite numerous appeals and concerns regarding the investigation, Albokhari remains the only crew member still imprisoned in Turkey.
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