The trial of nine Egyptians begins in southern Greece on Tuesday on charges of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants and caused a shock to the European Union’s border protection and asylum operations.
The defendants, most of whom are in their twenties, face life imprisonment if convicted on criminal charges related to the sinking of the fishing vessel “Adriana” on June 14.
International human rights organizations say their right to a fair trial is under threat, as they face trial before the end of an investigation into allegations that the Greek Coast Guard may have sabotaged the rescue attempt.
More than 500 people are believed to have drowned on the fishing vessel en route from Libya to Italy.
Following the accident, 104 people were rescued – most of them migrants from Syria, Pakistan and Egypt – and 82 bodies were recovered.
On Tuesday, riot police clashed with a small group of demonstrators who gathered in front of the court, and arrested two people.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, described the shipwreck off the southern coast of Greece as “horrific.”
The ship accident renewed pressure on European governments to protect the lives of migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach the Old Continent, as the annual number of illegal travelers across the Mediterranean continues to rise.
Lawyers from Greek human rights organizations represent the nine Egyptians, who deny their involvement in human smuggling charges.
Greek authorities say that some survivors were able to identify the defendants, and that the indictments are based on their testimonies.
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