 ROME - Seven Tunisian fishermen detained in Italy since August 22 for allegedly smuggling immigrants were released Monday, activists advocating their release said.
| Figures. Get caught smuggling people and get set free. This is Europe. Or Arizona. |
The men, all hailing from the eastern region of Monastir, were found carrying 44 would-be immigrants on August 8, who they said were on other boats which risked capsize off Lampedusa, ItalyÂ’s southernmost island.
Five of the men are due to return home and come back to Italy for the trial, which resumes on September 20. The two others will stay in a religious establishment in the nearby town of Licata. ‘It’s a very positive decision,’ an official from a committee campaigning for the fishermen’s release said, underlining that domestic and international pressure had helped.
| They're smuggling humans. How positive is that? |
Earlier, Savio Pezzotta, president of the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR) described as ‘incredible’ the decision of a court in Agrigente, Sicily, to turn down their lawyers’ bid to have the fishermen released. Some of those rescued had told the court that the fishermen had carried out a courageous rescue operation, said the CIR.
| "Um, yeah, that's right, it was a rescue operation, that's the ticket! Just ask my wife, Morgan Fairchild!" |
The crew members of the trawler Mortadha and the Mohammed-el-Hedi risk up to 15 yearsÂ’ jail if found guilty.
| Doesn't seem to be much chance of that, does there. |
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