Tuesday, October 21st, saw six members of an Italian charity which claims to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean go on trial in Sicily, accused of aiding illegal immigration.

The case centres around the Mare Jonio, a ship operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans (MSH), which took 27 migrants off a giant tanker in 2020 and brought them to Italy. The group had been stranded on the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne for over a month, with both Italy and Malta refusing to accept them.

The defendants include charity co-founder Luca Casarini, the ship’s captain and three crew members, including a doctor.

Prosecutors allege the rescue was financially motivated, pointing to a €125,000 ($145,000) payment from Maersk to MSH months after the event. Maersk denies this, stating in 2021 that the money had been intended to “cover some of the costs” the rescue charity endured. “At no point” was financial compensation discussed during the operation, it stressed.

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