German leadership calls for release of arrested ship captain who brought migrants to Italy

German officials are calling for the release of Carola Rackete, who was arrested in Italy over the weekend after docking a boat carrying migrants who were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea.

On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued a direct challenge to Italy to release Rackete, a German national, tweeting, "from our perspective only the release of #CarolaRackete can be the outcome of a trial under the rule of law." His voice joins German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who remarked that "someone who rescues people cannot be a criminal," reports The Washington Post.

Rackete, 31, is a captain in the German Sea-Watch, a non-profit organization operating migrant rescue missions in the Mediterranean. She was arrested after a 17-day standoff with Italian authorities. Italy's Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, pushed forward new legislation last year that forbids private humanitarian rescue ships from docking in Italy without prior permission. Rackete's vessel, the Sea Watch 3, was reportedly carrying more than 40 migrants when she approached Lampedusa, a small Italian island between Libya and Sicily.

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Rackete's actions represent a larger ideological divide between members of the European Union and raise further questions about establishing an international system of migrant resettlement. With 4,720 miles of coastline, Italy has seen the brunt of vessels carrying migrants from Northern Africa. The country adopted a hardline stance against the arrival of more refugees, whereas Germany continues to welcome resettlement during this ongoing migration crisis. Rackete could face up to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine. Read more at The Washington Post.