Italy’s Top Court Rules Against Sending Sea Migrants Back to Libya

Italy’s top appeals court has ruled that sending sea migrants back to Libya is unlawful. The ruling upheld earlier decisions by two lower courts and upheld the conviction of the captain of an Italian towboat, Asso 28, who rescued 101 migrants from a rubber dinghy in 2018 and returned them to Libya.

Both rulings have been praised by charities and human rights groups. The Libya to Italy crossing is one of the most-used sea migration routes globally.

Italy and other European governments have taken a hard line on immigration, amid rising support for right-wing parties advocating for significant curbs on sea arrivals from North Africa.