Italy detains migrant rescue ship, fines charity

Italian authorities have detained and fined a rescue ship operated by Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF), shortly after parliament passed into law a government decree establishing a code of conduct for migrant charity ships.

The rescue ship Geo Barents was placed in administrative detention for 20 days and issued a 10,000 euros ($10.500) fine, the organisation said on Thursday evening.

MSF said in a tweet that Italian authorities entered the vessel on Thursday evening and notified the crew of the disciplinary measures.

“We are assessing what legal actions we can take to challenge what happened,” MSF said.

“It is not acceptable to be punished for saving lives.”