Italian Court Acquits Migrant Rescue Ship Crews, Ends Seven-Year Case

The court in Sicily dismissed all charges against crews from three NGOs, citing lack of evidence and condemning the criminalization of humanitarian rescue efforts.

An Italian court has fully acquitted the crews of three NGO-operated migrant rescue ships, ending a protracted seven-year legal battle.
The crews were accused of aiding illegal migration by collaborating with smugglers, charges that were strongly denied and ultimately dismissed.
Humanitarian groups involved, including MSF and Save the Children, criticized the case as a smear campaign against their rescue operations.
The case highlighted broader issues of criminalizing humanitarian aid and the challenges faced by NGOs in conducting rescue missions in the Mediterranean.
The acquittal comes amidst ongoing debates in Italy and the EU over migration policies and the treatment of NGOs aiding migrants at sea.