A Greek judge has dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants last year. The fishing trawler, carrying over 500 people from Libya to Italy, sank with 104 rescued and 82 bodies recovered. International human rights groups criticized the trial’s fairness due to an ongoing investigation into the Greek coast guard’s rescue attempt. However, the prosecutor recommended that the charges be dismissed as Greek jurisdiction could not be established because the overcrowded trawler sank outside Greek territorial waters.
Supporters clapped and cheered as the judge announced the dismissal of the case of the nine Egyptian men accused of causing the deadly shipwreck. The defendants, most in their 20s, faced life in prison if convicted on multiple criminal charges over the sinking of the “Adriana” fishing trawler off the southern coast of Greece in June 2022. Defense lawyer Spyros Pantazis argued that the court should not be turned into an international punisher and questioned the court’s competence to try the case as the sinking occurred outside Greek territorial waters.
Judge Kontaratou questioned all nine defendants through an interpreter, who maintained their innocence and stated their intention to travel to Italy, not Greece. The sinking of the fishing trawler had triggered renewed pressure on European governments to protect the lives of migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach the continent, as the number of people traveling illegally across the Mediterranean continues to rise every year. The defendants, who deny the smuggling charges, were identified by other survivors, and the indictments were based on their testimonies.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had described the shipwreck as “horrific,” bringing greater attention to the issue of protecting migrants and asylum seekers in their journey to Europe. European border protection agency Frontex reported an increase in illegal border detections at EU frontiers through 2023, reaching the highest level since the 2015-2016 migration crisis, driven largely by arrivals at the sea borders. The nine Egyptian men were represented by lawyers from Greek human rights groups, who cautioned against finding the survivors guilty based on incomplete and questionable evidence, given that the official investigation into the coast guard’s role had not been completed.
The trial faced criticism from international human rights groups, arguing that the accuseds’ right to a fair trial was compromised due to the ongoing investigation into the Greek coast guard’s rescue attempt. Protesters clashed with riot police outside the courthouse, with two people detained, although there were no reports of serious injuries. Officers from the special police forces were called in to maintain order in the courtroom. Despite the dismissal of charges against the nine Egyptian men, the case highlighted the challenges faced by migrants and asylum seekers in their perilous journey across the Mediterranean, and the need for greater protection and support from European governments.
