Aid workers in Italy and Tunisia are currently facing criminal trials for helping migrants and refugees, in what human rights organizations describe as a growing trend of punishing humanitarian assistance. According to the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), at least 142 people across Europe were prosecuted in 2024 for supporting migrants. These prosecutions highlight the increasing efforts by governments to criminalize acts of compassion and solidarity toward those in need.
In Italy, six members of the humanitarian group Mediterranea Saving Humans (MSH) are on trial in Sicily for allegedly aiding illegal immigration. The group, which runs sea rescue missions in the Mediterranean, is accused of helping migrants enter Italy unlawfully. The charges, known as “aggravated facilitation of illegal immigration,” carry prison sentences of up to 15 years and fines of €15,000 per migrant rescued. MSH members, including co-founder Luca Casarini and the ship’s captain, have denied the allegations and say their work was purely humanitarian.
The charges stem from a 2020 rescue mission in which MSH transferred 27 migrants stranded for over a month on the Danish tanker Maersk Etienne. The migrants were taken aboard MSH’s rescue ship, the Mare Jonio, after the tanker had been refused entry to ports for nearly 40 days. Italian prosecutors allege that MSH was paid €125,000 by Maersk after the rescue, suggesting financial motivation. However, both organizations maintain that it was a transparent donation to cover rescue costs, not a payment for illegal transport.
During the recent court hearing, MSH lawyers criticized the use of wiretaps on private conversations involving journalists, clergy, and lawmakers. They argued that providing medical care and safety at sea should not be considered a crime. MSH released a statement saying the trial is an opportunity to expose the “absurd accusations” against those who save lives at sea and to hold accountable those responsible for ignoring distress calls that lead to deaths. The next court session in Italy is scheduled for January 13, 2026.
PICUM says the Italian trial is part of a larger pattern of targeting humanitarian workers across Europe. In its report titled Criminalization of Migration and Solidarity in the EU, the organization found that Greece, Italy, and Poland have the highest number of cases against people helping migrants. Many were prosecuted for rescuing migrants at sea, offering food or shelter, or protesting against restrictive immigration policies. According to PICUM’s Advocacy Officer, Silvia Carta, the Mare Jonio case should be seen as an act of humanity, not a crime, and represents a worrying trend where “solidarity is being criminalized.”
The report also warns that upcoming changes to the EU Facilitation Directive could make it even easier for governments to prosecute people offering humanitarian support. The directive, now being debated in the European Parliament, might expand the definition of “migrant smuggling,” allowing authorities to target anyone providing shelter, food, or rescue services to migrants. Human rights groups fear this could further discourage people from helping those in distress.
A similar case is unfolding in Tunisia, where six workers from the Tunisian Refugee Council (TRC) are facing charges for “sheltering” migrants and “facilitating illegal entry.” The TRC, which works closely with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to screen asylum applications, has condemned the accusations. Among those on trial are TRC head Mustapha Djemaili, an 81-year-old Tunisian-Swiss national, and project manager Abderrazek Krimi, who have been detained for more than a year and a half. The court recently refused to delay the hearing to allow a UNHCR testimony, with the next session scheduled for November 24.
Human rights advocates argue that prosecuting humanitarian workers in Italy and Tunisia sends a dangerous message that compassion is a crime. They stress that rescuing people from drowning, offering medical aid, or providing shelter should be acts of humanity, not grounds for punishment. As trials continue, the world is watching to see whether justice will side with solidarity or with the growing tide of criminalization against those who choose to help.