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.
Meghan Markle models 'love like a mother' t
Video: How Hong Kong film directors are navigating a new era of censorship
Bridgerton fans are all saying the same thing about season 3's costumes as new trailer drops
Controversial Antonio Brown pays tribute to 'legend' OJ Simpson after his death from cancer aged 76
Emiliano Martinez is shown TWO yellow cards but little
Thierry Henry blames Declan Rice for Bayern Munich's opener at the Emirates
Video shows Victim Support worker 'bragging' about smacking his children
Thierry Henry blames Declan Rice for Bayern Munich's opener at the Emirates
The Walking Dead star Tom Payne 'unexpectedly' welcomes TWINS with model wife Jennifer Akerman
James Corden FINALLY gets approval to demolish his Oxfordshire home after months of delays
Taylor Swift channels her bridal Grammy look in Fortnight video teaser
What kind of cancer did O.J. Simpson die from?