Will Carola Rackete be released soon? | Currently Europe | '
Carola Rackete's hearing by an Italian investigating judge took more than three hours on Monday – but a decision on a possible arrest warrant was adjourned to this Tuesday. Until then, the captain of the rescue ship "Sea-Watch 3" continue under house arrest, confirmed the aid organization Sea-Watch.
The 31-year-old German was arrested on Saturday night after she had steered her ship to the port of the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa with 40 migrants on board, despite an explicit ban by the Italian authorities. The "Sea-Watch 3" came against a speedboat police, which wanted to prevent the ship at the landing. In addition, it is being investigated against Rackete for aiding and abetting illegal immigration. You face up to ten years imprisonment.
(No) distress
Rackete's lawyer Alessandro Gamberini defended her actions. The situation on board had "gradually deteriorated". Because of the long wait "the situation threatened to get out of control". The "Sea-Watch 3" had rescued a total of 53 people off the coast of Libya from distress in mid-June. 13 of them had been brought ashore in the meantime, the remaining ones waited until last on the ship.
Was confiscated: the "Sea-Watch 3" (archive image)
The responsible prosecutor rejected the argument. "There was no emergency," prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio said on Monday night. The people on the "Sea-Watch 3" had received medical help outside the port and the crew had been in constant contact with the Navy.
A prosecutor's request for a ban on racquets is supported by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. Italy was in any case ready to expel "the rich, lawless Germans," said Salvini. Should the court follow suit, Rackete would be released until her trial.
Conte does not intervene
The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in Brussels that Chancellor Angela Merkel had approached him on the case. "I told her that in Italy, like her (…) in Germany too, the executive power differs from the judicial power." He could not intervene as head of government and suggest a behavior to the judges. The case "is in the hands of the court," said Conte.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Facebook: "From our point of view, at the end of a constitutional procedure, only the release of Carola Rackete can stand, which I will make clear to Italy again." Fundraising campaigns in favor of Sea-Watch and the captured captain brought together more than 1.2 million euros within a short time.
wa / stu (afp, dpa)
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