Germany calls for release of captain held in Italy over migrant boat

‘Saving lives is a humanitarian duty,’ foreign minister says

Germany has called for the release of a rescue ship captain who was arrested on Saturday for docking in Italy with migrants on board her vessel.

Carola Rackete, who helms Sea Watch 3, landed on the island of Lampedusa with 41 African citizens on her ship.

The migrants were rescued from the sea around Libya.

Ms Rackete had been stranded in international waters for over two weeks, during a standoff with Italian authorities.

On Saturday she broke the blockade and arrived at port.

Ms Rackete defied Italian authorities to dock the ship but rammed an Italian border police motorboat that was blocking her ship’s path.

The captain says the ramming was accidental.

The vessel arrived at Lampedusa on Satuday and Ms Rackete was arrested.

The 31-year-old captain has become a symbol for both sides in the divisive immigration debate in Italy.

Matteo Salvini, the hard-right interior minister who has closed the country’s ports to rescue ships, has dubbed Ms Rackete a pirate and outlaw.

But left-wing politicians declared her a heroine, for bringing the African citizens safely to shore.

The 41 refugees on board hugged the crew and kissed the dock when they arrived on Saturday morning.

“We are not relieved, we are angry,” said Ms Rackete in a statement at the time.

“This disembarkation should have taken place more than two weeks ago and it should have been coordinated instead of hindered by the authorities.

“European governments in their air conditioned offices have gambled with these people’s lives for more than 16 days. Not a single European institution was willing to assume responsibility, until I was forced to do so myself.”

Crowds cheered the captain as she appeared in Sicily on Monday, to face a court hearing.

The initial hearing in the city of Agrigento was meant to decide if she should remain under house arrest or be freed as the investigation continues into her contested rescue mission.

The 31-year-old is accused of resisting a warship order, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, and of aiding people smugglers.

She is also accused of endangering the lives of four policemen aboard the rammed patrol boat.

Judge Alessandra Vella is expected to make a decision by Tuesday morning, a judicial source said.

Germany called on Monday for her release, but Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, told Angela Merkel at an EU meeting that the case was an independent judicial matter.

“I expect justice to deliver tough penalties to those who risked the life of Italian military personnel and who repeatedly rejected our laws,” Matteo Salvini said on Monday.

“From other European countries, starting with France and Germany, I expect silence and respect.”

Heiko Maas, Germany’s foreign minister, earlier appeared to criticise the Italian decision to arrest the captain.

“Saving lives is a humanitarian duty,” he said on Twitter.

“Rescue at sea must not be criminalised. It’s up to the Italian justice system to swiftly resolve the allegations.”

Additional reporting by agencies