Greek judge dismisses case against 9 Egyptians accused of causing a deadly shipwreck

KALAMATA, Greece — A Greek judge dismissed charges against nine Egyptian men accused of causing a shipwreck that killed hundreds of migrants last year and sent shockwaves through the European Union’s border protection and asylum operations, after a prosecutor told the court Greece lacked jurisdiction.

Supporters clapped and cheered as the judge announced the dismissal of a case that had faced criticism from international human rights groups, who argued that the accuseds' right to a fair trial was compromised because they faced judgment while an investigation into the Greek coast guard's rescue attempt is still under way.

Defense lawyer Spyros Pantazis had earlier asked the court to declare itself incompetent to try the case, arguing that the sinking occurred outside Greek territorial waters. Kontaratou acknowledged that there “were no Greeks on board, it was not under a Greek flag and all the documents refer to the 47 nautical miles away.”The sinking renewed pressure on European governments to protect the lives of migrants and asylum seekers trying to reach the continent, as the number of people traveling illegally across the Mediterranean continues to rise every year.

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