No More Deaths is asking for support for an international "Humanitarian Aid Is Never A Crime" campaign. The Italian government is currently prosecuting two Germans for "smuggling" after they rescued a group of African refugees on the Mediterranean Sea. We are appalled by the attempt to outlaw the courageous action of Elias Bierdel and Stefan Schmidt and by the attempt to destroy their livelihoods.

Captain Stefan Schmidt and his first mate, Elias Bierdel, were navigating their ship, the Cap Anamur, towards Basra, Iraq, in 2004 with a load of humanitarian supplies when they spotted a group of 37 refugees lost at sea in an inflatable raft. The Cap Anamur is equiped with an on-board hospital and has spent 30 years running humanitarian missions around the world.

After bringing the refugees on board, the ship attempted to land in a Sicilian port, but was denied by Italian authorities. After ten days at sea, the Cap Anamur landed and both Schmidt and Bierdel were arrested. The ship was impounded and the refugees deported.

The Italian government is currently prosecuting both Schmidt and Bierdel and is asking for a four-year prison sentence and 400,000 euro fine.

We are encouraging all NMD supporters to go to sign the e-letter to the Italian Justice Minister, Anglino Alfano. You can also send letters demanding that the charges be dropped to Mr. Alfano at:

Il Ministro della Giustizia
Angelino Alfano
c/o Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008