Greek authorities release 8 Egyptian nationals almost a year after shipwreck ordeal, 1 still detained

A Greek court approved the appeal against the administrative detention of four Egyptian nationals on Friday, securing their release almost a year after they survived one of the largest shipwrecks ever to take place in the Mediterranean Sea.

After a fishing trawler capsized off the Greek coast in June 2023 in an incident thought to have killed over 600 undocumented migrants, authorities in the country arrested nine Egyptians. 

They were held in remand detention for almost a year and investigated on accusations of causing a shipwreck, trafficking, forming a criminal organization and illegal entry into Greek territory.  

A Kalamata court ruled to acquit the nine survivors in May, finding that they did not intend to enter Greece and that it was not competent to litigate on other charges as the boat capsized outside of Greek waters.

Despite the acquittal, Greek authorities held eight of the nine in administrative detention on the pretext that they did not have registered addresses in the country. A lawyer acting for the Egyptians' defense told Mada Masr at the time described the decision was “absurd.”

Following an appeals process, a court approved the appeal for four of the Egyptians on May 29, and for the remaining four on Friday. The eight are in the process of applying for asylum, the lawyer added.

The youngest of the nine survivors, a minor, remains held at a pre-deportation facility in Tavros, Athens. A journalist with independent Greek outlet OmniaTV told Mada Masr that his asylum application was rejected, but that lawyers still intend to appeal the decision.