Libya: At least 11 illegal Muslim migrants drown off coast trying to get to EU

The tragedy of Muslim migrants embarking on dangerous (and illegal) journeys into Europe continues to unfold. Last week in Spain, 100 illegal Muslim migrants swam to Ceuta. Three of them were hospitalized for hypothermia. According to reports, groups of 20 to 30 people were departing “all day” (April 25) to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The departures followed encouragement by Pope Francis for illegal Muslim migration to continue into Europe, as he called for help to aid them on their journeys. Pope Francis was responding to the tragic drownings of economic migrants who take to the high seas to make their way into the EU illegally. He “denounced the indifference of those who ‘prefer to look the other way’ rather than assist migrants attempting to cross from Africa into Europe.” 130 African migrants bound for Europe drowned off the coast of Libya on April 22, “after Libyan human traffickers loaded them aboard vessels.”

Every effort should be made to end the illegal activity which endangers lives, and which is facilitated by people smugglers.

EU governments continue to encourage illegal Muslim migration into Europe. Only Greece has made any significant efforts to stop it, including the recent sentencing of a Syrian Muslim migrant to 52 years in prison for facilitating the practice.

“Several Europe-bound migrants drown off Libya coast: UN,” Al Jazeera, May 2, 2021:

At least 11 people drowned when a rubber dinghy carrying two dozen Europe-bound migrants capsized off Libya, the UN migration agency said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the tragedy took place on Sunday near the western town of Zawiya. The Libyan coastguard saved the lives of 12 migrants, it said in a Twitter post.

“The continuous loss of life calls for an urgent change in approach to the situation in Libya and the Central Med,” the IOM tweeted.

Those migrants were expected to be taken to a detention centre.

Sunday’s deadly shipwreck was the latest along the Central Mediterranean migration route. Last month, at least 130 people were presumed dead after their boat capsized off Libya, in one of the deadliest maritime tragedies in years along the busy route.

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

In the years since the uprising, Libya has emerged as the dominant transit point for people travelling towards Europe….