Jugend Rettet

Jugend Rettet is a Non-governmental organization (NGO) from Berlin. Its goal is to save drowning persons at the Mediterranean. Operations are conducted with the Iuventa, a ship that sails under Dutch flag. This ship was seized in August 2017 after suspicion of cooperation with migrant smugglers.[1]

The organization is divided into three divisions. First there is the Iuventa crew. The Iuventa is a 33-meter (108 ft.) ship, built to sail in the North Sea. In 2016 it was bought and rebuilt to become a rescue vessel. The name Iuventa originates from the Roman god of youth and courage. Second there is a department to encourage political awareness of certain issues. Third there is a discussion platform for the right of asylum.[2]

During a session of the Italian parliament on the 10th of May 2017, a prosecutor accused Jugend Rettet of working together with migrant smugglers. Jugend Rettet denied the allegations.[3][4] The organization Frontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) criticized the behaviour of NGOs at the Libyan coast waters, and reproached them unwillingness to cooperate with the official organizations.[5] August 2017 Jugend Rettet refused to sign the code of conduct for NGOs set up by the Italian government.[6][7]

Seizing of the Iuventa

On August 2, 2017 the public prosecutor of the Italian municipality of Trapani seized the Iuventa on allegation of cooperation with migrant smugglers and the encouraging of illegal immigration. The confiscation was preceded by a year of investigations by the Italian police. The prosecutor demonstrated witness reports, photo material, video material and sound recordings which should prove that the organization had not tried to rescue people, but taken over illegal immigrants at calm sea. The unimpaired vessels of the migrant smugglers subsequently would cruise back.[8][9][10][11][12] Jugend Rettet disputed the seizing, but on April 23 2018 the supreme court of Italy confirmed the decision of the court in Trapani that the vessel stays seized awaiting further investigations.[13] In July 2018, investigations were started against some members of Jugend Rettet.[14] They are suspected of aiding illegal immigration and could face up to 15 years in prison.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Nick (2017-08-05). "Italy seizes NGO boat suspected of aiding people smuggling". The Courier. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  2. ↑ IUVENTA, JUGEND RETTET. "JUGEND RETTET IUVENTA". JUGEND RETTET IUVENTA. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  3. ↑ DIE WELT (2017-04-23). "Mittelmeer: Retter sollen Flüchtlinge mit Lichtsignalen anlocken". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  4. ↑ Camilli, Anna Lisa (2017-08-08). "All the Accusations against the NGO Jugend Rettet | Rassegna Stampa". www.mediterraneanhope.com. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  5. ↑ INSIDER NEWSDESK (2017-04-13). "Frontex accuse NGOs of providing smuggler "taxi" service | www.italianinsider.it". www.italianinsider.it. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  6. ↑ "Seenotretter lehnen Verhaltenskodex ab". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). 2017-02-08. ISSN 1422-9994. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  7. ↑ AYS (2017-08-01). "AYS Daily Digest 31/07/17: MSF and Jugend Rettet refuses to sign NGO code of conduct". Medium. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  8. ↑ Lüdeke, Ulf (2017-08-04). "Respektlos und illegal: Das wirft Italien deutschen Mittelmeerhelfern vor". FOCUS Online (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  9. ↑ Dearden, Lizzie (2017-08-03). "Italy seizes refugee rescue ship accused of 'aiding illegal immigration'". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  10. ↑ Reuters Editorial (2017-08-02). "Italy seizes NGO rescue boat for allegedly aiding illegal migration". Reuters. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  11. ↑ Zalan, Eszter Zalan (2017-08-03). "Italy seizes NGO boat and starts Libyan mission". euobserver.com. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  12. ↑ Rome, Agence France-Presse in (2017-08-02). "Italy impounds NGO rescue ship and sends navy patrol boat to Libya". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
  13. ↑ Süddeutsche Zeitung (2018-04-24). "Rettungsschiff Iuventa bleibt beschlagnahmt". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  14. ↑ "Migranti: Juventa, 20 avvisi di garanzia - Sicilia". ANSA.it (in Italian). 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  15. ↑ Knobbe, Martin; Wassermann, Andreas (2018-07-28). "Mittelmeer: Italien ermittelt gegen Flüchtlingsretter". Spiegel Online (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  16. ↑ "Italië stelt strafrechtelijk onderzoek in naar bemanning Duits reddingsschip". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2018-07-31.
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