On June 26, Judge Antonio Albenzio of the Civil Court of Crotone annulled the administrative detention of the sea rescue ship Humanity 1, operated by the German NGO SOS Humanity. The judge also ordered Italian authorities to pay the NGO’s legal fees amounting to 14,000 euros.
The administrative detention, initially imposed on March 4, 2024, after Humanity 1 rescued 77 migrants in the Mediterranean, was lifted following an appeal by SOS Humanity. The rescue ship’s crew had ignored instructions from the Libyan Coast Guard, which was cited as the reason for the detention.
The judge’s ruling emphasized that Libya could not be considered a safe place for migrants under the Hamburg Convention. He referenced UNHCR findings that documented violations of fundamental human rights by the Libyan Coast Guard.
Cristina Laura Cecchini, lawyer for SOS Humanity, welcomed the decision, highlighting the ongoing criminalization of NGO rescue operations and the manipulation of facts surrounding the role of the Libyan authorities. The court confirmed that the Libyan Coast Guard does not conduct legitimate search and rescue operations, aligning with international law standards that SOS Humanity adhered to during the rescue mission.
This ruling challenges the cooperation between the EU and Libya regarding migration control and underscores the importance of safe and legal rescue operations for migrants in distress at sea.
