Prosecutors in Italy have formally finalised a four year investigation into refugee rescuers, and charged over 20 people from various charity organisations for ‘collaborating with people smugglers’.
The charged individuals were operating a former fishing vessel to rescue refugees and migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. One of the involved charity organisations, Médecins Sans Frontières, estimated that its boats saved upwards of 81,000 lives.
Independent studies into the four year inquiry have found that there was no collusion between smugglers and the rescuers. Charity representatives say these prosecutions form part of a trend of criminalisation of aiding migrants.