AYS News Digest 1.12.2023: El Hiblu 3 to face terrorism charges
46 almost drown in Med // Huge Eviction in Winter Conditions Northern France // Netherlands: 24 week work maximum unlawful // BVMN Webinar // Worth Reading…
FEATURE
El Hiblu three to face terrorism charges
Three teenagers took their fate into their own hands in 2019. Four and a half years later, they face the most drastic charges possible.
Amara Kromah, Abdul Kader and Abdalla Bari took control of the oil tanker El Hiblu 1 when it became clear that the crew wanted to return them, illegally, to Libya. The lads, who were aged 15, 16 and 19 at the time, were arrested upon arrival in Malta and have been waiting ever since to hear what charges they will be tried for.
Amnesty International describes the decision to charge the young men from West Africa as “the worst possible decision”.
“The indictment fails to recognize that they were part of a group of more than 100 asylum-seekers faced with an illegal pushback to Libya which would have put their lives at risk. Yet, they are the ones who might now need to defend themselves against charges ranging from ‘acts of terrorism’ to ‘violence’.” Elisa De Pieri, Amnesty International’s Regional Researcher.
The charges for terrorism could lead to a life sentence. The legal team, support by the Aditus Foundation, will continue to support the group, although Kader has been missing since summer and is believed to have left the island of Malta.
The reaction of the NGO community has been strong, and Are You Syrious adds its voice to those denouncing the decision and calling for justice to be served. A petition has been started to gather support from around the world. You can find the petition here.
SEA and Search And Rescue (SAR)
46 people almost drown in the Med
In a rescue operation, the interference of the so-called Libyan Coastguard almost cost 46 people their lives. It is suspected that 30 other people were taken back to Libya — what faces them is well documented. The hotline for refugees started by group Refugees in Libya receives more than 120 calls daily.
As governments in Europe try to make helping those migrating even harder, Ocean Viking share how the “distant ports” policy (requiring vessels after a rescue to travel long distances) impacts operations and lives.
German NGO Compass Collective are on their final rotation of 2023 with their yacht TROTAMAR III. Having deployed from Licata to Lampedusa, they are preparing to move forward into the SAR Zone. You can track their position here.
SOS Humanity has won the Annemarie Renger Prize in Germany. Presented for their “life-saving work,” this makes a welcome contrast to the criminalisation discourse facing sea rescue .
FRANCE
Huge eviction in winter conditions
Multiple sites have been cleared in Northern France. In what is one of the biggest operations in recent history, at least three sites in Calais were cleared of tents and personal belongings, whilst trees and shrubs and anything that could offer shelter were also removed, with Grand-Synthe, Dunkirk also being affected. People were forced onto buses and taken to other locations in France against their will.
NETHERLANDS
24 week work maximum unlawful
Until now, authorities in the Netherlands imposed a maximum number of working weeks that someone seeking asylum could work. Working for only 24 out of 52 weeks has been ruled unlawful. The European Reception Directive requires European Union member states to allow asylum seekers to have effective access to the labour market, but Member States are allowed to set their own terms. The challenge to the rules was made by an employer when they had not been allowed a work permit for two employees.
GENERAL
BVMN webinar recap
If you missed the Border Violence Monitoring Network’s webinar on the New Migration Pact, you can catch up in different ways.
WORTH READING
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