The possibility that a boat under a European alt-right, anti-migrant group will soon be sailing around the Mediterranean to prevent the rescue of refugees by NGO ones has led to outcry from human rights and related associations.
A protest on Monday in Catania, on the island of Sicily, demanded that Italian officials stop the right-wing movement, Generation Identity, to use port facilities for docking its ship, called the C-Star. The ship was rented by the group, which claims to be non-partisan but uses language reminiscent of the far right. The group's aim is to prevent migrants from landing in Europe through a campaign at sea they call "Defend Europe."
The leader of the group, Lorenzo Fiato, has often said in interviews that the organization aims to combat the "massive immigration and dogmas of multiculturalism and integration." He claims the group is supported solely through crowdfunding.
A number of associations are now working to prevent C-Star from docking in the Catania port, where the 40-meter ship of the extremist group is expected to arrive this week. The ship flies the flag of the African state of Djibouti and has been rented by Generation Identity to use paramilitary means to push back migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
In the words of the associations protesting C-Star's docking, ''stopping in the Catania port would be useful for the ship to stock up for its "mission" and to bring aboard "volunteers" enlisted in the paramilitary operation.
"It would be very serious if the docking and use of public facilities were to be granted to organizations that intended to conduct paramilitary operations in the Mediterranean Sea, intercepting migrant boats and giving themselves the right to intervene, handing over those who experience difficulties at sea to the Libyan Coast Guard and violating in a de facto manner the legal obligation to accompany migrants to the safest port - definitely not Libyan ones," the statement added.
The document was signed by organizations including Rete Antirazzista Catanese, Catania Bene Comune, Open Mind LGBT, Femministorie, the Laikal movement, Collettivo Politico Experia, the Comunità di Sant'Egidio and ARCI Catania.
It has been sent to the head of the Sicily region, the prefect, the police chief, the head of the port authority, the commander of the port and the mayor of Catania.