Tunisian fishermen block 'racist' anti-migrant boat from docking
Tunisian fishermen block 'racist' anti-migrant boat from docking
Far-right, anti-migration activists dealt another blow to a far-right, anti-migration European party, after Tunisian fishermen prevented their ship from resupplying at their port.
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The crew of the C-Star say they are on a mission to 'defend Europe' [AFP]
Tunisian fishermen blocked a ship carrying far-right, anti-migrant European activists from docking at their port.
The boat, which was chartered by anti-migration group "Generation Identity", set asail from Cyprus with the aim of countering refugee flows from Africa into Europe.
The boat's crew wa frustrated, however, when it hoped to dock in the Tunisian port of Zarzi to resupply.
"If they come here we'll close the refuelling channel," Chamseddine Bourassine, the head of the local fishermen's organisation, told AFP ahead of the ship's crossing into Tunisian waters.
"It is the least we can do given what is happening out in the Mediterranean," he added. "Muslims and Africans are dying."
The crew of The C-Star claim their aim is to expose collaboration between NGOs helping migrants at sea and human traffickers responsible for packing the dangerous migrant boats.
The ship recently tailed the Aquarius, a rescue boat operated by French group SOS Mediterranee, as it did its patrols in an area known for migrant boat sinkings.
The fishermen's actions are the latest in a series of blows to the C-Star's crew, who have endured a string of mishaps along their journey.
The ship recently tailed the Aquarius, a rescue boat operated by French group SOS Mediterranee, as it did its patrols in an area known for migrant boat sinkings.
The fishermen's actions are the latest in a series of blows to the C-Star's crew, who have endured a string of mishaps along their journey.
The C-Star headed straight from Cyprus to Libyan waters after being discouraged from attempting to dock en route in Greece and Sicily, with authorities concerned about the prospect of protests.
Their boat was was also delayed for a week in the Suez Canal while Egyptian authorities searched for weapons.
Following the search, the ship arrived at the Cypriot port of Famagusta last month, where several of its crew ironically jumped ship and asked for asylum in Europe.
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