Italy asked to explain naval ships off Libya

The Council of Europe has asked Italy to explain what its naval ships are doing off Libya’s coast amid concerns that Europe-bound migrants sent back to Libya face “a real risk” of torture or inhuman treatment.

In a letter published yesterday, the council’s human rights commissioner, Nils Muiznieks, warned Interior Minister Marco Minniti Italy again risked violating the European Convention on Human Rights.

The convention prohibits exposing people to “torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.

Italy announced in July it was sending naval units to Libya’s coast to help the local coast guard prevent migrants from leaving.

The increased patrols, coupled with Italy-backed deals to use militias on land to prevent wouldbe refugees from leaving, has greatly reduced the migrant flow to Europe.

To date, the number of migrants who reached Italy in 2017 is 25 per cent less than 2016.