A Greek judge dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants last year. The fishing trawler, carrying over 500 people from Libya to Italy, sank with 104 rescued and 82 bodies recovered. There was criticism about the fairness of the trial due to an ongoing investigation into the Greek coast guard’s rescue attempt. The prosecutor recommended the charges be dismissed, stating that Greek jurisdiction could not be established as the trawler sank outside Greek territorial waters.
The defendants faced up to life in prison if convicted on multiple criminal charges over the sinking of the “Adriana” fishing trawler off the southern coast of Greece. Defense lawyer Spyros Pantazis argued that the court should declare itself incompetent to try the case as the sinking occurred outside Greek territorial waters. The accused maintained their innocence and stated that their intention was to travel to Italy, not Greece. Supporters of the defendants cheered as the judge announced the case dismissal, after which a small group of protesters clashed with riot police outside the courthouse.
The sinking of the fishing trawler last year, which saw over 500 people on board, renewed pressure on European governments to improve protection for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to reach the continent. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the shipwreck as “horrific”. The incident led to increased scrutiny on European border protection measures as the number of illegal border crossings across the Mediterranean continues to rise every year.
The defendants hailed from Egypt and denied the smuggling charges against them. Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the risk of the survivors being found guilty based on incomplete and questionable evidence. The official investigation into the role of the coast guard in the rescue attempt has not yet been completed, raising doubts about the fairness of the accusations. Frontex, the European border protection agency, reported a rise in illegal border crossings at EU frontiers, driven largely by sea arrivals, marking the highest levels since the 2015-2016 migration crisis.
Although the trial faced criticism from international human rights groups, the judge decided to dismiss the charges against the nine Egyptian men accused of causing the shipwreck that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of migrants. Two people were detained following clashes between protesters and riot police outside the courthouse, but there were no reports of serious injuries. The trial brought attention to the challenges faced by migrants seeking to reach Europe and the need for improved border protection measures to ensure the safety of those attempting the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
