On Thursday, a group of 22 organizations and academics urgently called upon Malta to halt the practice of forcibly returning asylum seekers to Libya.
This appeal comes in light of allegations that 83 individuals seeking asylum were pushed back to Libya, a country embroiled in conflict and instability.
Alarm Phone, an emergency rescue hotline, first raised concerns about these individuals being “abducted” from Malta’s search-and-rescue zone and “forcibly intercepted” by the Libyan Coastguard instead of being brought to safety.
The history of Malta’s interactions with migrants and asylum seekers has been fraught with controversy, including a notable operation in 2020 that returned individuals to Libya and documented aggression by the Libyan Coastguard against migrants in 2021. These actions have sparked international debate about Malta’s commitment to protecting those at risk at sea.
The organizations emphasized the dire situation in Libya, highlighting the ongoing conflict, lack of a stable government, and documented human rights violations against migrants and refugees. They argue that Libya cannot be considered a safe country for returnees, pointing to extensive documentation, including reports by United Nations experts, of the grave risks faced by non-Libyan nationals living there.
In their joint statement, the coalition urged Malta to cease any collaborations that result in individuals being returned to Libya and to thoroughly investigate the alleged recent pushback. They stressed that Malta’s border control measures should not compromise human rights or lead to loss of life.
Among the organizations participating in this call to action are the Aditus Foundation, the Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta), the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, and Humanists Malta, joined by academic institutions focused on justice, equality, and migrant welfare.
Notably, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Libya reported that a total of 567 migrants were intercepted and forcibly returned to Libyan shores in the span from March 31 to April 6, 2024.
This figure contributes to the increasing number of migrants who face the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in search of a better life in Europe, only to be turned back to the very starting point of their desperate voyage.
The IOM’s report highlights the continuous and complex crisis in the region, emphasizing the dangerous conditions migrants endure during their sea journeys, as well as the precarious circumstances they encounter once return to Libya. Libya, being a predominant launch point for many aiming to reach European territories, has seen thousands of migrants and refugees attempt to traverse the perilous sea route, risking everything for the prospect of safety and prosperity.
