Thread by @StefSimanowitz

1/. On the fourth anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding on Migration btw Italy & Libya, @amnestyitalia accuse the
Italian authorities of complicity in the abuse, rape & torture of migrants & refugees in Libyan detention centres.
@FilippoGrandi

2/. Under the deal, Italy helps the Libyan Coastguard to stop boats & return people to detention centres in Libya

It defies comprehension that, despite the evidence of suffering inflicted as a direct result of this deal & despite the conflict in Libya, Italy renewed it in 2020.

https://twitter.com/matteodebellis/status/1356245029644349446

3/. The strategy of outsourcing of border control to Libya focuses on keeping people out of Europe

But #Libya doesn't have the capacity to coordinate rescues & people rescued at sea cannot legally be taken there due to the human rights situation
@Refugees
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

4/. As part of the same strategy to reduce the number people disembarking in Europe, countries have increasingly withdrawn patrols

NGOs that stepped in to fill the gap have been refused ports to dock & been subject to unfounded criminal investigations & bureaucratic obstacles.

5/. The real reason European govts don't want people rescued at sea to disembark in their countries is that, under the so-called "Dublin Rules", responsibility is triggered for that country to provide arrivees with a chance to seek asylum & assistance throughout the proceedings.

6/. Evidence obtained by the @guardian exposed a coordinated & unlawful EU assault on the rights of desperate people trying to cross the Mediterranean from #Libya

This piece by @daniel_howden @Balkanizator & @zachcampbell_8 show how Europe treats refugees
theguardian.com/world/2020/mar…

7/. In April, @PatrickKingsley revealed in @nytimes that Malta, a major waystation on the Med migration route, said it could no longer rescue migrants due to #COVID19

In secret, it continued to direct 3 private trawlers to intercept & return ppl to Libya
nytimes.com/2020/04/30/wor…

8/. Since there is no system to share responsibility for asylum seekers among European states, coastal countries (Italy, Greece, Malta) have been largely left to deal with the situation. Attempts by the EU Parliament to reform the Dublin Rules have been blocked by a few countries

9/. European leaders must fix a broken system which is failing both frontline EU states & people seeking safety

Swift & predictable disembarkation policy in line with intl law are needed, & a fair system to share responsibility among EU countries @amnesty amnesty.org/en/latest/camp…

10/. Last week, @VICE investigated “the world’s deadliest migration route”

Today, @amnesty said footage of a migrant describing his detention, torture & sale “is consistent with our findings of grave human rights abuses of migrants & refugees in #Libya”.

11/. “If they tried to take me back to Libya, I would jump in the water”

Those trapped in Libya have been subjected to horrific abuse by state & non-state actors with impunity

And yet, #EU & member states cooperate with Libya to stem arrivals to Europe.

12/. "It's a shame that it takes the death of a child too make us more human...’Out of sight, out of mind’. That's what seems too be important in this European bubble where we prefer to close our eyes rather than act."

@openarms_found's Marc Reig (via @VICENews) #Libya #Refugees