22 Maltese organizations alongside numerous academics are calling on their government to cease the return of migrants to Libya, declaring it an unsafe country.
The “Times of Malta” reported this urgent plea following allegations that 83 asylum seekers were forcibly “kidnapped” from Malta’s search and rescue zone and returned to Libya, as per a statement released.
The statement elucidates that, instead of rescuing the asylum seekers and transporting them to a safe harbor, the Libyan coast guard was “forcefully” intercepted while these individuals were aboard a boat within Maltese waters.
The Maltese organizations expressed their “grave concern” over reports suggesting their nation somehow allowed Libyan authorities to enter Malta’s rescue zone and repatriate people back to Libya.
This objection to returning migrants to Libya stems from the country’s ongoing and widespread conflict, coupled with the absence of a government capable of ensuring security and stability for the country and its residents.
The statement further highlighted that “daily occurrences of human rights violations of the most egregious nature in Libya render migrants and refugees unsafe in the country.”
Malta has faced criticism numerous times in the past for failing to assist migrants adequately.
In 2021, Sea-Watch International, an organization, released footage claiming to show individuals on a boat under “Libyan coast guard” attack, as they opened fire on a migrant vessel and attempted to ram it multiple times.
This call to action underscores the urgent need for a humane and secure treatment of migrants and refugees, emphasizing the dire situation in Libya as unfit for their return.
The Maltese authorities are yet to respond to these serious allegations and the demands for a change in their approach to migrant returns.
