With a disaster off Greece in the headlines, governments are keen to repeat a convenient myth rather than face scrutiny themselves
The Greek authorities have acted swiftly to bring nine suspected people smugglers court today following a mass drowning last week off the country’s coast. They stand accused of piloting a fishing trawler that sank off the Greek coast last week, leaving hundreds missing and presumed dead in one of the Mediterranean’s worst boat disasters. All have pleaded not guilty.
When a mass drowning such as this one hits the headlines, governments squirm as their own culpability is probed. Just weeks ago, the Greek government was accused in the New York Times of involvement with pushbacks of migrant boats, and many questions have been raised about the Greek coastguard’s actions in this latest disaster.
Diane Taylor writes on human rights, racism and civil liberties
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