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.
Bank of America accused of religious and political 'discrimination' by 'de
Gordon Ramsay serves papers to masked pub squatters who trashed TV chef's £13million London boozer
Tuition and fees will rise at Georgia public universities in fall 2024
Gay 30 Rock actor Maulik Pancholy is canceled from anti
Cyberattack costs hit UnitedHealth in 1Q that still turns out better than expected
Former Arkansas officer pleads guilty to civil rights violation in violent arrest caught on video
Donors pledge $630 million for conflict
Meghan Markle models 'love like a mother' t
Justice Thomas returns to Supreme Court after 1
Tennis umpire banned for life for manipulating scores and gambling
Gordon Ramsay serves papers to masked pub squatters who trashed TV chef's £13million London boozer