Nine men have been charged and detained for the tragic capsizing of a migrant ship in the Mediterranean, which claimed at least 82 lives, writes Reuters.
A 20-30 meter long fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants sank southwest of Greece in one of the deepest parts of the Mediterranean. Migrants tried to get to Italy from Lybia.
It is believed that around 700 illegal migrants from Egypt, Syria, and Pakistan were on the small boat,
and only 104 people were rescued.
The suspected smugglers come from Egypt and are aged between 20 and 40. On Tuesday, the 20th of June, the defendants appeared before the prosecutor to hear the charges. All the men have denied the charges brought against them.
One of the defendants’ lawyers said on the 19th of June that his client is not a human smuggler, but a victim
who was looking for a better life in Europe and paid to get to Italy.
It is believed that the outdated watercraft left Egypt, picked up passengers in Libya on the 10th of June, and went to Italy. Greek authorities have indicated that, according to survivors, they each paid 4,500 dollars for the trip.
The reasons for the sinking of the boat are still unknown. During the interrogation of the surviving migrants over the weekend, some of them claimed that the coast guard tried to tow the boat.
Greek authorities say the migrants have repeatedly refused help,
and deny that the boat capsized after the coast guard tried to tow it away.
The European Union has decided to allocate 15 billion euros for the adjustment of migration policy in 2024-2027. The funds will also be used to promote partnerships with third countries, to provide assistance to Middle Eastern countries, and to assist in humanitarian crises.
Read also: Evidence casts doubt on the Coast Guard’s actions before the migrant boat capsizing