World Council of Churches (WCC) applauds court ruling on migrants
Geneva, 29 Feb – (ANA) - The World Council of Churches (WCC) has applauded the landmark ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, which held Italy responsible for violating the rights of Eritrean and Somali migrants for sending them back to Libya. The ruling came out in the case of Hirsi Jamaa and Others vs Italy on 23 February. The court found Italy responsible for intercepting and returning a boatload of African migrants without determining whether such a decision would put their lives at risk. The court ordered Italy to pay financial compensation to each migrant in damages. The Somali and Eritrean applicants were among two hundred individuals, who left Libya aboard three vessels in 2009 to reach the Italian coast. After being intercepted by the Italian Coastguard, the passengers were transferred to Italian military ships and taken to Tripoli, without being informed of the destination. The WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit called the court ruling a turning point invoking national responsibilities towards migrants. (ANA)

FA/ANA/29 February 2012--------