102,500 refugees were returned to their country of origin in the first half of 2020 alone despite it is strictly prohibited by international law. This is true for El Hiblu 3, a group

of three boys from Libya, who are at risk of being sent back to Libya, where refugees are being sexually assaulted and tortured and sentenced to life in prison for a crime they didn't commit. El Hiblu 3 are three teenage boys who fled Libya on a ship that rescued refugees and promised that they were being taken to Europe. After a while, they and the over 100 refugees realised that they were being taken back to Libya, the refugees started panicking, screaming and crying, the captain then asked the three boys how to calm them down, the three boys then said,” Don’t take us back to Libya,” the captain turned the ship around and headed for Malta where upon arrival, El Hiblu were arrested.

El Hiblu 3 deserves freedom though because there is proof of their innocence. According to witnesses on the ship, no one was hurt, and the boys convinced the captain to go to Malta. They didn't hijack the ship or commit any terrorist acts, which they have been charged with. 

Another reason that El Hiblu 3 deserve freedom is that the UDHR specifically states everyone has the right to a fair trial which the three boys didn’t get. “However, since the proceedings began, only one of the 108 rescued refugees has been called to testify,” Thirty refugee rights campaign groups said in a shared statement. These campaign groups believe that the Maltese Attorney General only called in one of the witnesses to silence the people fighting for the boys and make an example of refugees and legalize refoulement.

The final reason El Hiblu 3 deserve freedom is that they aren't criminals but heroes. Thirty refugee rights organizations stated that these three boys should be celebrated rather than prosecuted, by persuading the captain to travel to Malta, El Hiblu 3 saved the lives of over 100 people. “Their imprisonment and prosecution constitute a deep injustice. Resisting illegal pushbacks to Libya is not a crime!" 

I hope you have read this and felt inspired to take action by sharing this and helping El Hiblu 3 get the freedom they deserve and making this story the last of its kind by persuading the UN to improve and reinforce refoulement. El Hiblu 3 are innocent and stood up for what is right. No one should be locked up for fighting for their lives and safety.