KALAMATA, Greece (AP) — Nine Egyptian men went on trial Tuesday in southern Greece, accused of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants and sent shockwaves through the European Union’s border protection and asylum operations.
The defendants, most of them in their twenties, face life in prison if convicted on multiple criminal charges for the sinking of the fishing boat “Adriana” on June 14 last year.
International human rights groups say their right to a fair trial is being threatened because they are being brought to justice before an investigation is completed into claims that the Greek coast guard may have bungled the rescue attempt.
More than 500 people are believed to have perished on the fishing boat, which traveled from Libya to Italy. After the sinking, 104 people were rescued – mainly migrants from Syria, Pakistan and Egypt – and 82 bodies were recovered.
Early Tuesday, police in riot gear clashed with members of a small group of protesters who had gathered in front of the courthouse and detained two people.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the shipwreck off the southern coast of Greece as ‘horrific’.
The waning renewed pressure on European governments to protect the lives of migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach the continent, as the annual number of people traveling illegally across the Mediterranean continues to rise.
Lawyers from Greek human rights groups represent the nine Egyptians, who deny the smuggling allegations.
“There is a real risk that these nine survivors will be found ‘guilty’ on the basis of incomplete and questionable evidence, as the official investigation into the role of the coastguard has not yet been completed,” said Judith Sunderland, deputy director of Europe and Central -Asia at Human Rights Watch.
Authorities say the suspects were identified by other survivors and charges are based on their testimonies.
The European border protection agency Frontex says illegal border detections at EU borders have increased for three consecutive years through 2023, reaching the highest levels since the 2015-2016 migration crisis – largely driven by arrivals at maritime borders.
