Stefan Schmidt: "Wir brauchen mehr Druck von unten"

On 28.06.19 Italian police arrested the captain of the Sea-Watch and confiscated the sea rescue organisation's ship. After the #iuventa10, this is currently the second case where Italian authorities are trying to take sea rescuers to court.
borderline-europe recalls: Almost the same story happened exactly 15 years ago: In 2004 our founding members Elias Bierdel and Stefan Schmidt were arrested and put on trial for rescuing people from distress at sea. Already 15 years ago, the court decided: acquittal, since the international maritime law obligates to save humans in sea distress. This can not be punishable under national law either - according to the judges on 7.10.2009.

Read here a review and commentary by our founding member Stefan Schmidt.