Europe Top Stories Trending Now

Italian court order release of rescue ship captain

SICILY, Italy: An Italian court has ordered the release of the German captain of a rescue ship who had been placed under house arrest after docking her ship at Lampedusa port.

Carola Rackete, 31, the captain of Sea-Watch 3, was detained in Italy after refusing to stand down in the face of military orders. Italy had banned the Sea-Watch ship from entering its waters.

Italian judge Alessandra Vella on Tuesday ruled that Sea-Watch captain Carola Rackete had not acted against the law when she refused to comply with a ban on entering Italy’s territorial waters.

Italian prosecutors requested the judge uphold a house arrest order in place since she was detained over the weekend. But the judge overturned the order, saying Rackete was “doing her duty saving human lives.”

Read more

German boat captain faces 20 years in prison for saving refugees

The German captain was taken into custody on Saturday as about 40 migrants who had remained on the ship disembarked. They had been aboard the Sea Watch 3, operated by the rescue NGO based in Germany, since June 12 after the rubber boat in which they attempted the sea crossing became distressed some 47 nautical miles off Zawiya, Libya.

Related story

Italian police arrest rescue ship captain

While attempting to dock her ship, she rammed into a police boat that was trying to block her manoeuvres.
Rackete paid tribute to the crew of the Sea-Watch 3 and described the ruling as “a big win against the criminalisation of helpers in many countries across Europe”.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who leads the far-right League Party, has threatened to use force to prevent vessels rescuing refugees off the coast of Libya from entering Italy. He believed these rescue ships were involved in human trafficking. However, Sicily-based prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio on Tuesday told Italian lawmakers that investigators have yet to find evidence that rescue vessels, such as the Sea-Watch 3, were implicated in a trafficking scheme to funnel refugees to Europe.

“She will go back to Germany where authorities would not have been that tolerant if an Italian captain had made an attempt on the lives of German police officers,” the interior minister said.

Read more

Rescue ship captain receives wide support after arrest by Italian police

Rackete’s arrest prompted two online campaigns, which between them raised more than €1m. A fundraising appeal by two prominent German television stars raised Over $1.034 million (917,195 euros) from more than 33,000 donors by Tuesday morning, while a second campaign, started on Facebook, had raised around $500,000 (433,993 euros) by Tuesday.

Dear TNT Reader,

At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.

Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.

But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.

Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.

Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription

Visa Card MasterCard American Express Card

We want to hear your Travel Stories.

Do you have a memorable, unbelievable, or favorite travel experience? Share your story with us.