We will not be intimidated by this criminalization campaign! We are continuing – in solidarity with all others who are currently being accused, attacked, silenced and marginalised – to show our face and raise our voices in the court room, in discussions, protests and other direct actions!

Updates

iuventa-crew free of all charges!

October 3, 2024

All papers signed, time for appealing the decisions expired! After a seven-year odyssey, we now hold the final documents of our trial with a swirl of emotions. The delivery of the translation of the grounds for the verdict marks the final act – and it ended with more than just an acquittal!

Decriminalise facilitation!

June 17, 2024

What was not achieved in the iuventa trial is finally becoming a reality thanks to the Kinsa case: the most far-reaching challenges to European (anti-)migration laws to date!

Press release of defense team of iuventa-crew regarding the reasoning of the acquittal delivered by the Trapani Court:

May 21, 2024

Investigation into “deliveries by sea taxi” based on partial evidentiary context, uncertain data and distorted interpretations by investigating authorities.

Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against All Defendants in IUVENTA Trial

April 19, 2024

Today, the court has delivered its landmark decision, clearing all defendants following a seven-year odyssey.

Judge to announce decision in IUVENTA case on 19 April

March 2, 2024

Today marked the final day of the preliminary hearing against the iuventa-crew. Following the prosecution’s unexpected request to drop the charges, the defense delivered a powerful closing argument, demanding not only the dismissal of the case but also the full recognition of the legality of all actions.

After 7 years, prosecution calls for charges to be dropped

February 28, 2024

In a surprising turn of events, the prosecution in the trial against the Iuventa crew and others has requested the charges to be dropped.The judge’s decision is still pending.

Trapani court: Judge’s decision in the IUVENTA trial!

February 22, 2024

After two years of preliminary hearings, a decision will be reached in the largest, most expensive and most complex court case against members of Civil Sea Rescue

Prosecution case relies on compromised witnesses – iuventa trial crumbles!

February 11, 2024

The main prosecution witnesses were summoned for questioning in yesterdays’s hearing. This session shed light on the ulterior motives and serious credibility issues of these witnesses upon whom the prosecution has built its entire case.

New twist: Judge requests summoning of key witnesses and analysis of more evidence!

December 14, 2023

It seems that our judge realise that what the prosecution has so far presented as the biggest investigation against the evil SAR NGOs, might instead have no evidences that support the charges against them.

12 NGOs file a criminal complaint to demand an investigation: Who is responsible for the destruction of the rescue ship Iuventa?

November 23, 2023

The civil fleet joins the iuventa-crew in filing a criminal complaint to hold accountable those responsible for the destruction of the Iuventa rescue ship under Italian custody.

Iuventa defendants counter accusations in court

October 14, 2023

Iuventa defendants address the court for the first time since the investigation against them began seven years ago.

European Court of Justice to examine legality of the offence of facilitating unauthorised migration

July 25, 2023

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will evaluate the legitimacy of the Facilitators Package and of Article 12 of the Italian Consolidated Immigration Act with regard to its compatibility with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The complaint prepared by lawyer Francesca Cancellaro has finally been referred to the ECJ.

Trapani court rules: border protection prevails over human rights

June 24, 2023

At yesterday’s hearing the court of Trapani rejected the two requests previously filed by the defence of iuventa-crew. Hence, the court blocked the possibility to bring serious contradictions between fundamental rights’ protection and Italian legislation as well as EU directives before the competent higher courts.

The struggle to ensure fair trial continues in the iuventa case

May 27, 2023

At the latest hearing the defence again criticised the inadequate translation of the case files and requested a referral to the European Court of Justice in order to obtain a landmark decision on this issue. The public prosecutor office took a position on the constitutional complaint previously filed by the defence.

Constitutional Complaint Filed: iuventa case takes a turn as legal basis for criminalization is challenged

May 16, 2023

In last Fridays recent hearing, iuventa’s defence filed a request to the Italian Constitutional Court, challenging the legal basis of the criminal proceedings. This legal action questions the Italian and European legislation on “smuggling” cases, based on which more than 1,000 people are currently detained in Italy alone.

UN Special Rapporteurs call on Italian prosecution to dismiss iuventa case

May 3, 2023

Today, it’s been disclosed that three of the UN Special Rapporteurs, independent experts of the UN human rights Council, have called out the Italian government over the legal proceedings against the iuventa crew and the worrying context for migrant rights defenders.

Who is in charge of the iuventa case? Court of Cassation to clarify questions of territorial competence.

March 15, 2023

Since the defence kept revealing further fundamental deficiencies in the overall construction of the indictment, today the question of the legality of the indictment was once again in the foreground. At today’s hearing, the court in Trapani took a position on some of these points.

NGOs on trial: defendants and court commemorate the victims of Crotone

March 1, 2023

Today’s preliminary hearing against the 21 defendants accused of “aiding and abetting unauthorised immigration” at the court of Trapani was grounded in reality by the facts of Crotone.

Court denies Italian Prime Minister’s office access to the courtroom

February 25, 2023

Following the long and controversial discussion at the last hearing on the question of the Italian government’s application to join the trial, as they claim to be an “crime victim”, this time there was a decision.

Iuventa ship destroyed in Italian custody, the crew filed a criminal complaint

February 19, 2023

The iuventa crew filed a criminal complaint to the Trapani Prosecutor’s Office on 12.02.2023, requesting an investigation into the abandonment and destruction of the rescue ship iuventa.

Italian government apologises for erroneous and defamatory motion to join trial as a joint plaintiff

February 11, 2023

Lasting ten hours, the longest and most heated hearing in the iuventa case took place yesterday, dealing with the inadequate interpretation and the government’s request to appear as a joint plaintiff.

Italian investigating authorities trumped-up allegations against rescue ship iuventa

January 4, 2023

The Italian government’s willingness to criminalise search and rescue operations by any means necessary to stop them is becoming increasingly evident. What started with Minniti’s NGO law in 2017 led to the confiscation of iuventa and is now taking an escalating extreme with Meloni’s decree of 28.12.2022.

Italian government to intervene in trial of iuventa rescuers as plaintiff

December 19, 2022

Decisive steps were taken today in the trial of the crew members of the civil rescue ship iuventa, who face up to 20 years in prison for “aiding and abetting unauthorized immigration” and whose ship has been impounded in the port of Trapani for 5 years. Both the Ministry of the Interior as well as the Prime Minister’s office have today requested to be admitted as joint plaintiffs in the trial.

IUVENTA: Judge orders repairs and maintenance for NGO ship  

December 9, 2022

After being held in the port of Trapani for five years and abandoned by the harbour master’s office, the iuventa has been plundered, largely demolished and is currently unseaworthy and in danger of sinking. In its ruling yesterday, a court confirmed the complainants’ view that this treatment was wrong and decided that extensive maintenance work must be carried out on the ship to restore it to the condition it was in before the seizure in August 2017.

IUVENTA case: International observers admitted in trial against sea rescue organisations

December 3, 2022

At today’s hearing in the trial against the civil sea rescuers, the presence of renowned international trial observers was admitted by the court. After approval by all parties, they were allowed to attend the trial as observers for the first time.

The seizure of the rescue ship IUVENTA was a tragedy – but the trial against the crew members is a farce!

December 2, 2022

In the major court case against crew members of the civilian sea rescue, the public prosecutor’s office refused to provide a qualified interpreter in an interrogation of a German defendant.

Whether in ports or courtrooms, Italy disregards basic rights

November 12, 2022

Trapani, November 12, 2022. In the largest court case against crew members of civilian sea rescue, since five years there is not only no sufficient evidence to justify the seizure of a rescue ship, let alone the threat of 20 years prison sentences. This criminal proceeding also lacks the basic principles of a fair trial.

Trial of civil sea rescuers in Italy facing 20 years imprisonment riddled with errors: questioning of defendant aborted due to disastrous interpretation

October 31, 2022

5 Years after the seizure of the iuventa ship, the trial was adjourned for the second time last Saturday, 29 October 2022, again due to mistakes by the prosecution. A subsequent voluntary questioning by the police of one of the iuventa defendants had to be aborted after minutes due to insufficient interpretation. The iuventa defendants asked to exercise their right to be interrogated voluntarily by the authorities.

Prosecution repeatedly fails to provide basic fair trial rights

October 29, 2022

The judge was finally unable to bring the case any step forward. Once again, due to procedural errors on the part of the public prosecutor’s office, the proceedings against the 21 accused, who face up to 20 years in prison for “aiding and abetting unauthorised entry”, had to be interrupted.

Proceedings against IUVENTA suspended: Prosecution failed to respect basic standards for a fair trial

June 15, 2022

The trial against four crew members of the IUVENTA and 17 other defendants charged with “aiding and abetting unauthorised immigration” was suspended due to procedural errors by the prosecution. The judge rejected the prosecution’s claim that the procedural errors could be ignored.

Solidarity in Trapani

Secret Justice in Italy? : Trial monitoring denied

May 23, 2022

On 21.05.2022, 5 years after the most extensive and controversial investigation into
non-governmental rescue organization in the Mediterranean, 21 defendants will finally face their accusers in a preliminary hearing at the Court of Trapani.

Italy launches its biggest trial against sea-rescue NGOs

March 10, 2022

On 21.05.2022, 5 years after the most extensive and controversial investigation into
non-governmental rescue organization in the Mediterranean, 21 defendants will finally face their accusers in a preliminary hearing at the Court of Trapani.

Italian prosecutor presses charges against the Iuventa crew

March 4, 2021

++ Italian prosecutor presses charges against Search and Rescue Crew from the Mediterranean Sea ++ The crew of the Iuventa risk up to 20 years in jail ++

Who assist people on the move risk jail as authorities misuse anti smuggling laws

March 5, 2020

Amnesty International: iuventa10 is a symbolic case in new report about criminalisation of solidarity

Amnesty awards human rights prize to iuventa10

February 11, 2020

Amnesty International demands to stop the proceedings against Iuventa10 without any restrictions.

Facts that matter

February 10, 2020

++ Investigation files still not accessible until the end of preliminary investigations ++ Preliminary investigations are continuing notwithstanding exculpatory evidence ++ Main eyewitness, interviewed by the press, revoked his testimony ++ Defense filed a request to drop the case ++

Honoured in Switzerland, criminalised in Italy

May 10, 2019

Paul Grüninger Award for Iuventa Crew
“Saving lives instead of criminalizing the rescuers”

“I’ve never seen the NGOs cooperate with the traffickers…“

May 8, 2019

Pietro Gallo, one of the main witnesses of the prosecution in conversation with Zeit Online.