ROME (AP) — An Italian court on Friday dismissed a long-running case against the crew of three humanitarian organizations, dropping charges accusing them of collaborating with smugglers as they helped rescue thousands of migrants at sea.
The judges in the Sicilian city of Trapani decided not to proceed to trial against 10 crew members involved in the so-called Iuventa case, named after the rescue vessel operated by German nonprofit Jugend Rettet.
Staff members from Jugend Rettet, Save The Children and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were fully acquitted from all charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
Italian prosecutors started the case in 2017, accusing the crew members of serving as “taxis” for migrants rather than rescuing them. The rescue teams were alleged to have coordinated their search-and-rescue actions with human traffickers off Libya, returning dinghies and boats to smugglers to be reused, while rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean whose lives were not in real danger.
Iris Law puts on a very leggy display as she steps out wearing tiny grey shorts in West Hollywood
Xinjiang lauded for its efforts on opening
All to play for in Champions League quarterfinals as Mbappe looks to rekindle form for PSG
56.4 pct of China's postgraduates hold professional degrees
Israeli PM announced plans to rebuild areas near Gaza border, not build inside the territory
39 killed in deadly building fire in Jiangxi
Former desert land transformed into oasis for relocated villagers
Uruguayan businessman savors success of meat trade in China
Survival expert reveals what to do if you fall OVERBOARD on a cruise ship
2 suspects detained in Poland for attack on a Navalny ally in Lithuania
Shooting at Baltimore mall sends girl, 7, to hospital