A Spanish charity that helps rescue migrants in the Mediterranean has accused the Italian authorities of harassing its charitable activities. The Open Arms Association reported that its ship, also named Open Arms, has been seized by the Italian government for a period of 20 days and fined up to 10,000 euros.

Violation of Controversial Law

Last August, the ship was detained along with two other rescue ships for allegedly violating a controversial new law. This law states that relief ships must return to the designated port after each rescue operation, as determined by the Italian authorities.

Rescue Operations in the Central Mediterranean

Last week, Open Arms successfully rescued 176 irregular migrants in three separate operations in the central Mediterranean. The migrants were then brought to the port of Carrara in Tuscany.

Accusations Against the Italian Government

In a statement released on Thursday, the Spanish Association accused the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of deliberately harassing humanitarian ships. They expressed their frustration at the unfair seizure and the resulting legal costs, stating that they have always respected the law of the sea and international agreements.

Rise in Irregular Migration

Since coming into power a year ago, the Meloni government has promised to put an end to irregular migration. However, the number of migrants arriving in Italy has actually increased significantly. According to the Interior Ministry, over 135,000 migrants have arrived on Italian shores this year, compared to 72,400 in the same period last year.

Debate Over Rescue Operations

The Italian government claims that only 5% of migrants are rescued by relief ships. However, Prime Minister Meloni believes that these rescue teams actually encourage smugglers. This viewpoint is disputed by researchers who argue that migration is driven by complex factors.