Today marks six years since the arrival of the El Hiblu 3 in Malta. Three young men who have spent over 2,000 days fighting charges that human rights groups continue to call unjust, excessive, and politically motivated.

Abdalla, Amara, and Kader were just teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 19, when they arrived in Malta on 28th March 2019.

They had travelled separately from Guinea and the Ivory Coast, fleeing war, violence, and exploitation in Libya in search of safety and peace.

Rescued by a merchant oil tanker in the central Mediterranean, the three acted as translators and mediators between the frightened group of asylum seekers and the ship’s crew.

But upon arrival in Malta, they were met not with safety, but with charges of terrorism and hijacking.

They were imprisoned in Corradino, Malta’s prison, and have since remained caught in a prolonged legal limbo, despite maintaining their innocence from day one.

Since then, they’ve been recognised internationally as human rights defenders, applauded for their role in preventing an illegal pushback to Libya, where the risk of torture and inhumane treatment was high.

Last year, they were honoured with a human rights award presented by President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who praised their courage and called their actions an inspiration to human rights defenders around the world.

But despite global support, six years have passed, and their case remains unresolved.

Daniela DeBono from the Coalition for the El Hiblu 3 said they have been punished before even standing for trial, and that six years in limbo for teenagers has marked them for life. She called for the charges to be dropped immediately.

Maurice Stierl, also from the coalition, said we have witnessed both the courage of the Three and the cruel injustice they are forced to experience in Malta. He added that after six years of repeating the same demands, it’s time to end this injustice and free the El Hiblu 3.

Their story is a stark reminder of what activists call justice delayed is justice denied.

Joanna Jebaili of KOPIN Malta said if people saw these young men as their own children, they’d be fighting for them too.

Now aged 21, 22 and 25, their youth has been stolen, say campaigners, but there is still time to reclaim their futures. The Coalition for the El Hiblu 3 is once again urging Maltese authorities to drop the charges and set them free.

Featured image: Amnesty International

What do you make of this case?