The legal defense team for nine Egyptian men accused of causing one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, the sinking of the Adriana, argues that Greece does not have jurisdiction in the case. The men, who are due to go on trial in southern Greece, are facing charges of migrant smuggling, participation in a criminal organization, and causing a deadly shipwreck. The defense maintains that their clients were innocent passengers who were wrongly identified as crew members by other survivors. They face possible multiple life sentences if convicted.
The Adriana was an overcrowded fishing trawler that sank in international waters off the southwestern coast of Greece while carrying between 500 to more than 700 migrants to Italy. Only 104 people survived, all of whom were men and boys from various countries, and around 80 bodies were recovered. The exact number of passengers on board has never been established, making recovery efforts difficult. The Greek defense lawyers argue that the survivors who accused their clients of being the crew members did so under duress just hours after being rescued.
The defense team asserts that their clients, all of whom are Egyptian, were simply paying passengers who were hoping for a better life in Italy. The lawyers claim that Greek authorities mistakenly named the defendants as crew members based on testimonies by fellow survivors who stated that the defendants had performed simple tasks such as handing out water or fruit to other passengers. The defense team members emphasize that their clients have been held in prison for nearly a year without fully understanding the charges against them.
The sinking of the Adriana occurred within Greece’s search and rescue zone of responsibility, even though it took place in international waters. Greece’s coast guard had been tracking the trawler for a day but did not attempt a rescue. Some survivors allege that the coast guard was trying to tow the boat when it capsized. The defense team argues that Greek authorities failed to provide adequate help to those on board, and some activists have accused them of triggering the shipwreck while trying to tow the boat out of Greece’s search and rescue zone.
Greece, a popular entry point into the European Union for migrants, is facing continued challenges with rescue operations in the Mediterranean. On the day of the news conference, Greece’s coast guard reported that 42 people had been rescued from a distressed boat off the coast of Crete, and three others were believed to be missing. The Italian coast guard alerted Greek authorities about the vessel, and nearby ships and a Greek navy helicopter were involved in the rescue operation. The circumstances surrounding the distress call and the type of vessel involved were not immediately clear.
