Six people traffickers have been convicted in France for causing the deaths of 31 migrants in a small-boat accident in the Channel, marking the worst such disaster to date. Following a four-week trial in Paris, the six individuals received prison sentences ranging from six to ten years for "involuntary homicide." Seven additional defendants received lesser sentences of up to four years, while one person was acquitted.
The incident occurred on November 24, 2021, when the boat sank after sending distress signals to both French and British coastguards. Among the deceased were mainly Iraqi Kurds, along with Afghans, Egyptians, and Iranian Kurds, including a seven-year-old child. Only two men survived the tragedy.
The court found that the migrants were sent to sea in a boat that was described as "of poor quality, uncertified, unsuitable for navigation at sea, overloaded, and without correct life jackets." The trial revealed that the convicted traffickers were part of two networks, one Iraqi Kurdish and the other Afghan, which collaborated to facilitate the crossing.
Family members of the victims attended the trial, providing emotional testimony regarding their loved ones' journeys. One family member, Zana Marmand Muhammed, recounted how his brother Twana sought a better life in England due to dangerous conditions in their home country. Another family member, Nabi Mustafa Mina, expressed his attempts to dissuade his son from leaving, offering support instead.
The court also heard from Issa Omar, one of the survivors, who described the harrowing experience of clinging to floating bodies and life jackets to stay alive.
Investigators utilized phone tracking to identify members of the trafficking networks. The lesser defendants were charged with aiding migrants, transporting them across France, and assisting on the night of the disaster. The alleged leader of the Iraqi Kurdish network, Bashdar, was not present for the trial as he is in custody in Iraq. The most severe sentence of ten years was given to Obaidullah Maroofkhel, who led the Afghan network and was tried in absentia.
Following the verdict, the court issued arrest warrants for six of the defendants. Additionally, a separate investigation is ongoing into seven members of the French armed forces for allegedly failing to assist the migrants during the incident. A decision regarding their potential trial is expected in the coming months.
The trial concluded as France and the UK announced the termination of the one-in one-out scheme, which had allowed for the return of irregular migrants in exchange for accepting asylum seekers. This program had reportedly not yielded the expected results in disrupting trafficking operations.