Sea Rescues Criminalized, Boat Captain Faces 20 Years in Prison in Italy for Saving Refugees

Pia Klemp stands accused of aiding illegal immigration after saving people from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. She accuses Italian authorities of organizing “a show trial.”

The captain said, “We have only followed international law, especially the law of the sea, where the highest priority is to save people from distress.”

Klemp has personally assisted in the rescue of more than 1,000 people at risk of drowning as they attempted the dangerous crossing to Europe in search of a better life.

She said that according to her attorney she could be looking at “up to 20 years in prison and horrendous fines.”

In an interview with the Basler Zeitung daily on Friday, Klemp said that a trial against her would begin soon after she was charged in Sicily with assisting illegal immigration.

 

 

Photo from: Sea-Watch

One comment

Comments are closed.