NGOs praise decision to turn away C-Star anti-migrant ship

A group of human rights NGOs have praised the Government's decision to refuse entry to a ship run by European right-wing activists.

The C-Star, a ship chartered by an Identitarian group called "Defend Europe," had asked the Maltese authorities about procedures should they need services, but were refused entry earlier this week.

" We would like to commend the Government of Malta’s stand against the far right group Defend Europe in refusing to allow the C-Star to enter Malta," reads a joint statement issued by NGOs Aditus Foundation, Graffiti, Integra Foundation and the Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta), Kopin and The Critical Institute.

"Under the deceptive premise of ‘saving lives’, the mission of the vessel C-Star claims to ‘defend Europe’ by disrupting humanitarian vessels and by returning refugees to the coast of Libya. The scope and actions of Defend Europe must not be underestimated, their political ideology is dangerous and extreme. The stance adopted by the Government of Malta sends out a clear message against the politics of hate and extremism."