In the summer of 2019, the boat Open Arms was stuck out at sea for twenty days with over 130 people on board, who it had rescued in high seas. The boat was unable to disembark because of the decree implemented by the Italian politician, until the local attorney for Agriento (in Sicily) allowed it.

The incident prompted the sea rescue NGO, one of the claimants in the proceedings started by the Italian prosecutor, to challenge Salvini’s decree. The court is investigating Salvini, among other things, for the alleged crime of abduction for refusing to allow the Open Arms to disembark, keeping people detained on board.

Barcelona against Salvini

With the Open Arms operating out of Barcelona, the City Council has been committed over the last five years to the work of the NGO in protecting lives in the Mediterranean. In 2019, for instance, the City Council was part of an agreement worth half a million euros to Open Arms, some 35% of the funding for its rescue operation.

Because of this, the City Council is adding its weight to the legal action and pursuing the former Italian interior minister for property damages caused by blocking the vessel, the resulting increase in costs and the holding up of the mission, as well as damages to the values and image of Barcelona as a consequence of the accusations directed against the city by the Italian politician.