Libyan militia opened fire. A child is in a coma

By Krysta Bisnauth, Freedom United Migrants are shot at,[1] thrown into the sea,[2] and dragged back into slavery—funded by the European Union. Today is Anti-Slavery Day in the UK and the EU. The same EU that funds armed militias to hunt down migrants in the Mediterranean, will spend the day posturing about human rights. “Impunity is over” for traffickers, declared former EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson last year. But you and I know the truth: impunity thrives—because the EU has never been held accountable for the crimes it enables. This is what happens when migrants are treated as less than human. Dehumanizing others for one’s own profit is straight out of the slavery playbook. A gift from you can help us expose it and stop it. Help us stop this “These incidents are increasing and it is linked to EU funding for the so-called Libyan coastguard. They feel they can do anything, that there are no consequences for their actions.” Janna Sauerteig, SOS Humanity Three shootings at rescue boats in six weeks. In August, 100 bullets were fired at Norwegian rescue vessel, Ocean Viking. Last month, German rescue boat, Sea-Watch, reported a similar ambush under fire. And on Sunday, Libyan fighters shot at a migrant boat in international waters, hitting a 15-year-old boy in the face with a flare. He’s now in a coma.[3] Days ago, a report was published showing a sharp escalation in violent attacks on migrants in the Mediterranean by the Libyan Coast Guard. In 2016, 2 violent incidents were recorded while, so far for 2025, 9 incidents have been recorded.[4] The EU’s response? Ask Libyan authorities to investigate themselves.[5] How do they get away with it? Around the world, governments use anti-migrant policies to justify the abuse, imprisonment, forced labor and even murder of people on the move. Their crime? Crossing borders in search of safety, freedom, or a better life. So, while Europe speaks of human rights, it’s paying for the very systems that strip them away—militias which shoot at rescue boats, drag survivors to detention camps, and profit from their exploitation. It’s clear: only we can hold them accountable. While they try to turn a blind eye, the support from our community helps us keep their feet to the fire. If you can and would like to support our work, a contribution today would help us expose the truth, confront those in power, and keep the pressure where it hurts. Help us stop this “It is unacceptable that the EU finances and condones violence by the Libyan Coast Guard against people trapped in Libya through brutal interceptions and forced returns when they try to flee, as well as flagrant attacks at sea against humanitarian workers. The impunity must stop.” Sophie Beau, co-founder and executive director of SOS MEDITERRANEE France. A migration system built on fear and punishment will only fuel abuse and trafficking, but a system rooted in protection and dignity can help end exploitation before it begins. That future is possible—but only if we confront the systems enabling modern slavery today. No more silence. No more complicity. It’s time to fight for a world where no one is exploited for seeking safety. We can’t do this alone. A gift today helps power our work to dismantle anti-migrant narratives and push for laws that protect—not punish—people seeking safety. [1] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/eu-funds-libya-fires-and-migrants-pay/ [2] https://www.freedomunited.org/news/libyan-militias-dump-migrants/ [3] https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/warlords-shoot-teenage-migrant-italy-9tkp7jslg [4] https://sea-watch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Sea-Watch-Violence-at-sea-2016-September-2025.pdf [5] https://libyaobserver.ly/news/european-commission-libya-investigating-gunfire-rescue-ship-international-waters