It is illegal that only the most vulnerable migrants are allowed ashore from a rescue ship. This has been decided by an Italian court. The government should not have discriminated on the basis of health status, it says.
Among the international obligations that Italy has taken on is also “to provide aid to any shipwrecked person, without regard to his state of health, as is the case in the government decree”. Action by the Italian authorities in November.
At that time, the rescue ship had taken in 179 people in distress in the central Mediterranean. After consultation, it was then allowed to dock in the Sicilian port of Catania, but only until the 144 most vulnerable passengers could disembark. Another 35 migrants were refused entry. NGO ships such as Norway’s Geo Barents have experienced the same situation. None of the ships was immediately cleared to land. Some activists, including left-wing parliamentarians, protested this decision and called for all the rescued to be admitted.
Right-wing politician Giorgia Meloni took office as Prime Minister in Rome in October. Her government had announced plans to reduce the number of boat people entering the country. A regulation then stipulated that only the most vulnerable people were allowed to go ashore on a rescue ship.
NGO: Italy must comply with international law
A representative of the affected German NGO SOS Humanity welcomed the court’s ruling. The new Italian government is now “obliged to follow international law,” she said. Before the verdict, the NGO had already said that the decision would violate human rights and could be challenged in court.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
