ATHENS, Greece – Nine Egyptian men, who were on board a migrant boat that tragically sank off the coast of Greece last year, resulting in the loss of countless lives, are now set to face trial next month. The individuals are accused of being involved in people smuggling, as stated by Greek judicial sources on Friday.
The circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Adriana back in June continue to be a contentious issue between Greek authorities and organizations advocating for the rights of survivors and migrants. Thus, this forthcoming trial presents an opportunity to officially hear the firsthand accounts of some of those present at the time.
Survivors have leveled accusations against the Greek coastguard, alleging that they deliberately capsized the boat. However, the authorities, who closely monitored the Adriana for hours, insist it overturned when a coastguard vessel was approximately 70 meters away. The coastguard service has categorically denied any wrongdoing.
What remains unclear, however, is exactly what transpired during the time between the coastguard being alerted to the vessel’s presence and its eventual capsizing.
In a December report, the European border agency Frontex, which had spotted the boat from the sky before the coastguard, revealed that Greek authorities failed to respond to its follow-up calls and offers of assistance. As a result, they were unable to definitively determine what caused the Adriana to capsize.
Loaded with hundreds of migrants from Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt, the overcrowded fishing trawler sank in international waters off the southern town of Pylos, while on its voyage from Libya to Italy. Out of the total number of people on board, 104 men managed to survive, and only 82 bodies have been recovered.
This tragic incident stands as one of the most horrifying disasters in recent years, once again shining a spotlight on the life-threatening risks migrants endure when crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
Since June, the nine Egyptian men have been in pre-trial detention and now face charges related to causing the incident, being involved in a criminal organization, and participating in migrant smuggling, among others, according to a source cited by Reuters. Despite the allegations, they firmly maintain their innocence. The trial is scheduled to commence on May 21 in Kalamata.
Various rights groups have expressed their opposition to the detention of these individuals, asserting that survivors should be supported rather than persecuted. In light of this, the NGO Legal Centre Lesvos has called to drop the charges.
Adding further complexity, last year survivors provided accounts of how the ill-fated attempt by the Greek coastguard to tow the trawler ultimately led to its capsizing. These testimonies directly contradict the official narratives of the Greek government and the coastguard, who claim that the boat had refused assistance.
In September, 40 survivors initiated a lawsuit against Greek authorities, accusing them of neglecting their duty to intervene and rescue those on board, ultimately causing the vessel to sink.
Ultimately, the trial of these men will serve as a crucial event in shedding light on the true events surrounding the Adriana’s sinking, potentially providing justice for the lives lost and offering a platform for survivors to share their harrowing stories.