The Latest: French courts to rule in migrant case
Posted Nov 21, 2019 4:40 am.
NICOSIA, Cyprus — The Latest on migrants in Europe (all times local):
1:35 p.m.
A French appeals court is expected to hand down a verdict in the case of a mountain guide who was convicted of helping migrants illegally enter the country.
Thursday’s ruling is the latest of several cases putting to the test France’s “principle of fraternity,” which allows humanitarian aid for irregular migrants.
A lower court in the Alpine town of Gap gave Pierre Mumber a three-month suspended prison sentence in January, charging that he helped several West African migrants cross the Italian border near Montgenèvre in 2018.
Mumber has appealed the decision, arguing he was simply providing legal humanitarian assistance.
Local aid group Tous Migrants says he was bringing warm drinks, boots and clothing to migrants crossing the Alps when he was detained.
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10:20 a.m.
Cyprus police say 120 Syrian migrants have been housed at a reception centre after arriving from Turkey aboard a boat.
Police said Thursday that the 97 men, 20 children — including 14 unaccompanied minors — and three women told authorities they each paid people traffickers $4,000 (3,620 euros) for a spot on the boat.
Their vessel was spotted Wednesday sailing off Cape Greco on the southeastern tip of the island nation and was escorted to an area harbour.
The migrants said they set sail from Turkey’s southern port city of Mersin after crossing the Syrian-Turkish border on separate dates.
Cyprus officials say a migrant influx is taxing the small country’s ability to host so many arrivals and is asking fellow European Union member states to share the burden.
The Associated Press
