Mediterranea Saving Humans denounces a new, heavy-handed attack by the government against our ship Mediterranea, which has been hit with a 60-day administrative detention and a €10,000 fine under the so-called Piantedosi Decree.

This is the second identical sanction imposed for the two missions carried out by our new ship. This time, it follows the rescue of 92 people, including women, men, and minors. This measure targets our rescue operations despite acting in full compliance with the Hamburg Convention on maritime rescue, which clearly requires assigning the nearest safe port after a rescue.

Even more serious is that the sanction comes despite two Public Prosecutor offices—the Juvenile Court of Palermo and the Agrigento Prosecutor—having ordered the immediate disembarkation at Porto Empedocle of all rescued people, including minors, vulnerable individuals, and those with physical or psychological fragility, who needed urgent medical care on land.

We are facing government measures that ignore facts, evidence, and fundamental human rights, and even binding decisions from the competent judicial authority.
Through the Piantedosi decree, the government seeks to impose that people just rescued from death remain at sea for days, far from essential medical services and a safe place. We consider this decision unjustified, illegitimate, and profoundly inhumane.

As happened with the disembarkation in Trapani in August, where the Civil Court already suspended a similar punitive measure previously imposed on us, Mediterranea will immediately appeal against this detention and fine. But we want to make it clear: we will never resign ourselves to a system that prolongs the suffering of those seeking protection, criminalizes and economically strangles those who save lives, and seeks to turn the very laws of the state into instruments of intimidation and deadly “deterrence.”

Since January 1st of this year, over 1,500 people have died in the central Mediterranean. While those who let human beings die can hide behind laws that betray international law, those who save lives are punished.

We will never obey illegitimate orders that conflict with justice and humanity. We will continue to do what is right: rescuing lives, protecting those who survive, and defending human rights at sea and on land.