A Greek court acquitted nine Egyptians who had been charged in connection to a migrant shipwreck that resulted in the deaths of over 600 people in the Mediterranean. The charges were dropped after a hearing in Kalamata, Greece, where the state prosecutor accepted the defence’s argument and urged the court to drop the charges.
The suspects were detained following the sinking of the trawler Adriana last year, which was carrying over 750 people but only 82 bodies were found. The nine Egyptians, who were among the survivors, faced serious charges including negligent homicide and facilitating illegal entry into the country.
Defence lawyers argued that the Greek court did not have jurisdiction as the accident occurred in international waters. The decision to drop the charges left some relatives in tears as the accused were taken to a migrant camp to have their asylum claims heard.
Procedural Violations Alleged
The defence also claimed major procedural errors in the investigation, stating that some suspects were arrested based on incomplete evidence shortly after the sinking. Survivors reported pressure from Greek police to identify the suspects, despite blurry photographs.
Human Rights Watch highlighted the need for accountability for the coastguard’s actions during the shipwreck, emphasizing the importance of determining liabilities of Greek authorities. The court’s decision was seen as part of a broader trend of criminalizing asylum seekers, with migrant rights advocates calling for more transparency and accountability in such cases.