It's All Good Own Water, Mate: European Court Dismisses Italian Migrant Boat Debacle
Italian refugee treatment by boat remains unchallenged by European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the lawsuit filed against Italy.
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In a bizarre legal tussle over allegations of dumping boat refugees, Italy managed to wriggle off the hook, according to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The judges found no proof that Italy had unlawfully roped in the Libyan Coast Guard to shove the capsized migrants back into the Mediterranean. This tidbit is straight outta Strasbourg.
The story began when about 150 folks from Ghana and Nigeria attempted to flee Libya for a better life in Europe, only to end up capsizing in the sea with tragic results. Children and tonnes of strong surviving souls ended up filing a complaint with the ECHR.
The ruling reveals that the Italian Coast Guard had sent a signal to nearby vessels to lend a hand and had also informed the Libyan coordination center, since the incident took place within Libyan waters. A Libyan boat was the first on the scene, but according to the complainants, it caused waves that led to the demise of several migrants. To add insult to injury, the crew onboard the Libyan vessel allegedly whacked and tormented the migrants in the water. Fortunately, a rescue ship known as "Sea-Watch 3" showed up to fish some refugees out of the drink.
Previously, the ECHR had nailed Italy for "pushbacks," or actively kicking refugees back. In this instance, the complainants accused Italy of concocting a "pullback" with the Libyan boats.
The ECHR couldn't prove Italy's wrongdoing, despite the fact that Italy has been shelling out dough to the Libyan government for its marine deeds. The judges based their ruling on the location of the incident as well as the lack of evidence that the Libyan boat was under Italian control.
The ECHR had previously docked Italy for "pushbacks," but in this case, they couldn't find any direct proof of collusion between Italy and Libyan boats in the name of "pullbacks." That's not to say that countries like Italy aren't complicit in externalizing migration control, which might lead to practices akin to "pullbacks" or offering indirect support via funding and training.
In a nutshell, while the ECHR ruling didn't provide smoking guns for "pullbacks" masterminded by Italy, it does bring attention to the intricate topic of financial and logistical support extended to the Libyan Coast Guard, which plays a crucial role in Italy's and other European nations' immigration strategies.
[1] Source: ntv.de, dpa[2] The European Union's migration management policy and its impact on human rights[3] Externalization of migration management: The role of EU border agencies and the Libyan Coast Guard[4] Financing and training of the Libyan Coast Guard: The hidden costs of migration[5] Migrant pushbacks: Evidence, practices, and legal implications in Europe and beyond
- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled, amidst allegations of "pullbacks" involving Italy and the Libyan Coast Guard, that there was insufficient evidence to prove Italy's wrongdoing in the migration policy arena.
- The ruling serves as a catalyst for discussions on the broader complexities of financial and logistical support extended to the Libyan Coast Guard, a key player in Italy's and other European nations' immigration strategies, which may be linked to counterproductive practices such as "pullbacks."
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