The Civil Fleet Podcast

Ben Cowles
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Saving lives at sea is not a crime But for the past few years, European states have treated those brave enough to save refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean as if they were breaking the law. Welcome to The Civil Fleet, a podcast by civilfleet.com that focuses on the NGO refugee rescuers in the central Mediterranean and beyond.

  1. FEB 12

    Episode 86: What is the Libyan Coastguard?

    In this episode, we speak with Frey Lindsay, a journalist with the transparency and civil liberties organisation Statewatch.    He tells us how the so-called Libyan Coastguard is far from a unified organisation but is, in fact, an amalgamation of groups with different structures and vying allegiances.  Frey also tells us about a leaked EU document, obtained by Statewatch recently, that proposes the bloc outsource its SAR operations in the Mediterranean to non-European countries and have them take the rescued to non-EU ports.  ---Support The Civil Fleet Podcast---   ko-fi.com/civilfleet   ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   ---Show notes---   Follow Frey Lindsay on BlueSky: @freylindsay.bsky.social You can read Frey's InfoMigrants article on the Libyan Coastguards here: https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/67224/the-libyan-coast-guard--explained For more on Statewatch, check out: statewatch.org Follow them on Bluesky: @statewatch.bsky.social Check out Statewatch's Outsourcing Borders project: statewatch.org/outsourcing-borders-monitoring-eu-externalisation-policy And sign up to their newsletter here: statewatch.org/outsourcing-borders-monitoring-eu-externalisation-policy/mailing-list/ Frey mentions the Ocean Viking and SOS Mediterranee. For more on them, check out episodes episode 75 and 80 of The Civil Fleet Podcast For more on Libya and the so-called Libya Coastguard, listen to episodes 80, 79, 75, 65m 55, 52, 43, 29, 23, 19, 15, 10, 7 and 1 Frey mentions Lighthouse Reports. Check them out here: lighthousereports.com. And listen to episodes 52 and 34 For more on Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni meeting with Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar, see this report from InfoMigrants: https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/48746/italylibya-meloni-meets-haftar-migration-a-priority   For more on the TBZ brigade and General Haftar's alleged links to human trafficking, see this report in Spiegal International: https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/more-like-kidnapping-a-brutal-libyan-militia-helps-europe-keep-migrants-at-bay-a-0c68d2b5-37bd-4267-b98c-8279a059e2bc    For more on the EU's plans for an MRCC in eastern Libya, read this Statewatch report: https://www.statewatch.org/news/2026/january/eu-to-increase-lethal-migration-cooperation-with-libya/    For more on the Piantedosi Decree, listen to episodes 84, 71 and 66 Check out this 2018 report on the EU's 'disembarkation platforms' idea: https://www.politico.eu/article/regional-disembarkation-platforms-eu-leaders-consider-camps-outside-bloc-to-process-refugees/  And check out The Civil Fleet's new exclusive story (that Ben mentions at the beginning and end of the episode) here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/at-least-14-people-died-in-home-office-asylum-seeker-accommodation-in-first-six-months-of-2025/

    1h 19m

  2. 12/17/2025

    Episode 85: Greece's criminalisation of Sudanese refugees

    In this episode, we speak with Mustafa, Bairbre and Louise about the treatment of Sudanese refugees in Greece.    Mustafa tells us about the revolution and ongoing proxy war in Sudan. He'll also tell us why he had to flee the country, and the Kafkaesque situation he found himself in after seeking asylum in Greece.    Louise and Bairbre tell us more about the situation for people on the move in Greece, how refugees (including children) are being criminalised and sentenced to decades (and sometimes hundreds of years!) in prison for allegedly captaining a boat across the sea or driving a car across the border.    We'll also hear about the situation inside Greece's migrant detention camps, and how the solidarity groups Mataris Sudan Solidarity Committee and 50 Out Of Many are organising with criminalised and imprisoned Sudanese refugees.    ---Support The Civil Fleet Podcast---   ko-fi.com/civilfleet   ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   ---Show notes---   Don't know much about the conflict in Sudan? See this video from Al Jazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL0nz1ZeX_k For more on the EU's past links with the RSF, see here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/19/what-is-europes-role-in-sudans-refugee-crisis And here: https://znetwork.org/znetarticle/europe-shouldnt-rely-upon-the-rsf-militia-on-immigration/ Here is the report Ben mentions called Border Control from Hell: data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/55954 For more on UK arms sales to Sudan and reports that the RSF is using UK-made weapons, see this October 2025 report by the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/oct/28/uk-military-equipment-rapid-support-forces-rsf-militia-accused-genocide-found-sudan-united-nations  And read this response from Amnesty International UK: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-arms-licensing-system-indefensible-british-linked-weapons-used-sudan  For more on Mataris Sudan Solidarity Committee, follow them on Intsa: mataris_ssc Follow 50 Out of Many on Instagram, too: 50outofmany Find Louise's court drawings on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/truuuuuuuuuuuuc/ For more The Civil Fleet Podcast episodes on Greece, see episodes 68, 60, 56, 53, 52, 50, 35, 34, 28, 26, 18, 9 and 4 In episode 35, we hear from Hanad Abdi Mohammad, a Somalian (not Ethiopian as Ben said in this episode!) refugee who was sentenced to 142 years behind bars in Greece for supposedly captaining a boat across the Aegean For more on the El Fasher massacre, read this Al Jazeera report: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/29/massacre-in-el-fasher-whats-happening-in-sudan-right-now  For more on the Dublin Agreement, check out this explainer video by The Guardian newspaper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ooecJWPcAY&t=28s&ab_channel=TheGuardian For more on Ireland's new family reunification rules, read this report in the Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2025/11/26/what-are-the-new-family-reunification-rules-for-migrant-workers/ Read Amnesty International's condemnation of the Greek government's decision to suspend asylum claims for people from North Africa in July 2025 here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/greece-new-asylum-and-return-proposals-flagrantly-breach-international-law-and-punishes-people-seeking-protection/  For more on conditions in Greece's prisons, see this report by the Council of Europe Anti-Torture Committee: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/-/council-of-europe-anti-torture-committee-cpt-returns-to-greece-for-high-level-talks-on-prison-reform And read about their 2019 visit here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/greece-reforming-prison-system-and-ending-police-ill-treatment-are-urgent-priorities-says-cpt "The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently," wrote the late, great David Graeber... Of course, Ben totally butchers this at the end of the episode.

    1h 11m

  3. 12/09/2025

    Episode 84: Doctors Without Borders returns to the Mediterranean

    In this episode, we speak with Juan Matias Gil, a search-and-rescue representative for Doctors Without Borders (MSF).   He tells us how the Italian government made it impossible for the medical charity to use its Geo Barents rescue ship, and about the Oyvon — MSF's new, smaller, faster rescue vessel.    He also tells us about the first rescue mission aboard the Oyvon. ---Support---   ko-fi.com/civilfleet   ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   ---Show notes---   For more on MSF, visit: msf.org.uk   Follow MSF's rescue missions on Twitter here: @MSFSea For more on their former ship, the Geo Barents, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/tag/Geo-Barents   AND, check out episode 14 of The Civil Fleet Podcast, with the ship's search-and-rescue team leader Riccardo Gatti and midwife Kira Smith   For more on the Piantedosi Decree, listen to episodes 71 and 66   Want to hear how an out-of-date carton of jam was one of the reasons why one of the Aita Mari rescue ship was blocked from leaving port? Listen to episode 12.    OR, read this interview with Iñigo Mijangos, chairman of Humanitarian Maritime Rescue (SMH), teh charity which operates the Ait Mari: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/06/10/europe-will-continue-with-its-border-control-policies-and-we-will-continue-fighting-for-human-rights/   For more on the Sea-Watch 4 being detained for having too many life-jackets, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/europes-criminalisation-of-ngo-refugee-rescuers-reaches-another-peak-after-fifth-ship-detained-in-italy/    For more on the EU's funding of the Libyan Coastguards despite knowing about its human rights abuses, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2021/03/05/eu-urged-to-continue-support-for-libyan-coastguard-in-leaked-document/

    48 min

  4. 12/03/2025

    Episode 83: Britain and France's 'one-in-one-out' refugee deal

    In this episode, we speak with Diane Taylor, a journalist at the Guardian newspaper, about Britain's "one-in-one-out" deal with France, and about the British government's new, even harsher asylum-seeker policies.    Diane also tells us about the refugees she spoke to in France recently after they were deported from Britain, and about a group of asylum-seekers who went on hunger strike in protest against their forced return trip across The Channel.    ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   --- Show notes ---   Read more from Diane here: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/dianetaylor   Here's a link to the opinion piece we spoke about in this episode: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/17/labour-asylum-plans-cruel-hype-old-policy-unachievable-promises   Read 'No safe place to go': people sent back to France under 'one in, one out' deal tell of desperation, here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2025/nov/18/people-sent-back-france-uk-one-in-one-out-scheme   Read Diane's article about the hunger strike, here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/26/asylum-seekers-uk-hunger-strike   For more on the hunger strike, see here: https://www.biduk.org/articles/bid-joins-hunger-strikers-in-detention-in-calling-for-their-right-to-claim-asylum-in-the-uk   For more on The Channel, the Illegal Immigration Act, the Nationality and Borders Act, the Rwanda Scheme, the Bibby Stockholm and more, see episodes 73, 62, 61, 57, 49, 44, 42, 39, 38, 32, 25, 21 and 17 of The Civil Fleet Podcast.    See here to read about the fall in net migration in Britain https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2025/11/27/what-is-driving-the-current-fall-in-net-migration/   Want to know more about the British government's latest plans to introduce ID cards? See here: https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/issue/digital-id-liberty-position/   And here: https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/campaigns/no2digitalid/   For more on Bosnia, see episodes 58, 59, and the bonus episode (which you can access on ko-fi.com/civilfleet)   For more on No Name Kitchen, see episodes 59, 58, 51, 41, and 6   For more on the Manston migrant detention centre, check out episode 32.   For more on Lithuania and Poland, see episodes 78, 64, 52 and 33.   See here for more on Humans for Rights Network: humansforrights.org   For more on BiD (Bail for Immigration Detainees), see here: biduk.org

    49 min

  5. 11/06/2025

    Episode 82: Monitoring human rights the Channel

    In this episode, we speak with Peter from The Channel Monitoring Project.    He tells how the new project plans to monitor people crossing over from France to England, how the group hopes to counter the toxicity around this in Britain, and how anyone can get involved.    ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   Join me at the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk   --- Show notes ---   For more on The Channel Monitoring Project, see their website here:   channelmonitoringproject.com   Find their social media profiles here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566003603488 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/channelmonitoring.bsky.social And Discord: discord.com/invite/ZnpQCMCjtc   For more on Channel Rescue, see episode 11   Read about the UK Border Force training to push people back to France, here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2022/01/14/uk-border-force-may-have-begun-attempts-to-push-refugees-back-across-the-channel-already-evidence-suggests   For more on The Channel, the Illegal Immigration Act, the Nationality and Borders Act, the Rwanda Scheme, the Bibby Stockholm and more on the UK, see episodes 73, 62, 61, 57, 49, 44, 42, 39, 38, 32, 25, 21 and 17   For more on the Pylos Shipwreck, see episodes 60 and 52   For more on the Anduril's AI system at the border, see this report from Migrant Rights Network: https://migrantsrights.org.uk/projects/hostile-office/the-digital-hostile-environment/ai-borders-anduril-autonomous-surveillance-towers/   For more on Refugees in Libya, see episodes: 79 and 29

    56 min

  6. 10/19/2025

    Episode 81: Kidnapped by the IDF – The Global Sumud Flotilla story

    In this episode, we speak with Lorenzo D'Agostino, a journalist who took part the Global Sumud Flotilla's civilian-led mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.    He tells us about joining sailing from Barcelona towards Gaza, how its boats came under repeated drone attacks, and how the activists were eventually intercepted and kidnapped by the Israeli Navy.    Lorenzo tells us how, once in Israel, his captors treated them all like terrorists and subjected them to torture, before deporting them to Turkey. We also hear how most European governments totally failed to stand up for their citizens.    ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   Join me at the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk   --- Show notes ---   For more on the Global Sumud Flotilla, see the group's website here: global-sumudflotilla.com   Follow Lorenzo D'Agostino on: Twitter: @lorenzodago Instagram: lo_dago  And on TikTok: lorenzodago   Check out his website here: lorenzodagostino.com   Check out episode 19 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more from Lorenzo   Want to know what Lorenzo and I were doing in Trappani, Sicily, last January? Then check out episode 54.   For more on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/american-workers-rights-activist-chris-smalls-beaten-by-israeli-soldiers/    Read this CBS report on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly approving the bombings of Family and Alma ship in Tunisia: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/netanyahu-drone-attacks-gaza-aid-boats-tunisia/   For more on Palestine Action, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2025/07/05/the-civil-fleet-podcast-stands-with-palestine-action/   Ben mentions the Libyan Coastguards firing on the Ocean Viking refugee rescue ship and the Italy navy failing to help. Check out episode 80 for more on that.    You can read a farcical (and now deleted) article on an Israeli government website claiming the Global Sumud Flotilla was organised by Hamas, here: https://web.archive.org/web/20251001154325/https://govextra.gov.il/mda/march-to-gaza/the-hidden-networks-behind-the-global-sumud-flotilla/    Ben mentions The World Transformed Festival. Read about that here: https://theworldtransformed.org/   You can read Lorenzo's article addressed to the Israeli people, here: https://x.com/lorenzodago/status/1973516145350287812    Read about Saleh al-Jafaraw, the latest (as of this recording) journalist killed by the Israeli military, here: https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/tributes-pour-palestinian-journalist-killed-after-gaza-ceasefire

    1h 27m

  7. 10/10/2025

    Episode 80: Under attack from the Libyan 'Coastguards'

    In this episode, we speak with Patrick, a search and rescue worker on SOS Mediteranee's ship the Ocean Viking.  Patrick is going to tell us about the Libyan Coastguard's attack on the Ocean Viking in August this year.  The tells us how the EU-funded Libyan Coastguards circled the ship and peppered it with bullets at head and chest height. There were 80 rescued people on the ship, including unaccompanied children. Fortunately, no one was hurt.  Despite their attack on a European-flagged ship, the EU has said it will continue to fund and work with the Libyan Coastguards.  ---Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   --- Show notes ---   For more on SOS Mediterranee, see their website here: sosmediterranee.org   Follow SOS Mediterranee on social media: BlueSky: @sosmediterranee.org‬ Insta: SOS MEDITERRANEE Twitter: @SOSMedIntl You can watch a clip of Libyan Coastguards firing on Ocean Viking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BRP_MIIGeU  Also, listen to episode 75 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more on SOS Mediterranee. For more on Sea-Eye, check out episode 10; Sea-Watch, see episodes 70, 65, 43, 22, 7 and 1, and SOS Humanity, listen to episodes 55 and 31 of The Civil Fleet Podcast.  For more on Italy's distant ports policy, see episodes 71 with ResQShip, and 69, with SeaPunks.  For more on the Libyan Coastguards, see here: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/tag/Libyan-Coastguard/ Read about the EU dismissing the civil fleet's calls to stop funding Libyan Coastguard after the shooting, here: https://euobserver.com/migration/ar9ad7ff4f (Unfortunately, it's behind a paywall...) For more on the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair, see here: https://bookfair.org.uk

    55 min

  8. 10/02/2025

    Episode 79: Documenting the UNHCR's failures in North Africa

    In this episode, we speak with human rights campaigner and Refugees in Libya co-founder David Yambio.    He gives us an update on Refugees in Libya's Unfair campaign, which demands the UNHCR change the way it treats people in need of its protection.    He tells us about the Book of Shame — which he and his fellow Refugees in Libya campaigners co-wrote with members of Refugees in Tunisia and Refugees in Niger.    He tells us how the book outlines the UNHCR's failures to protect people-on-the-move, in North Africa.    David also tells us how he found out that the Italian state used an Israeli spy firm to tap his phone and spy on him.    --Get in touch---   Twitter: @FleetCivil   Mastodon: @civilfleet@kolektiva.social   Bluesky: @thecivilfleet.bsky.social   Instagram: thecivilfleet   info@civilfleet.com   civilfleet.com   --- Show notes --- For more on Refugees in Libya, see: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org    You can read the Book of Shame here: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org/book-of-shame    Check out episode 29 of The Civil Fleet Podcast for more with David Yambio   Read this interview with David Yambio on The Civil Fleet blog from when he was living in Libya: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/the-eu-must-be-held-accountable-for-the-crimes-it-has-committed-against-people-trying-to-reach-its-borders/   For more on the EU's support for the Libyan Coastguards despite its fears of human rights abuses, read this: https://thecivilfleet.wordpress.com/2020/02/21/eu-to-continue-supporting-the-libyan-coastguard-despite-its-fears-of-human-rights-abuses

    40 min
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About

Saving lives at sea is not a crime But for the past few years, European states have treated those brave enough to save refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean as if they were breaking the law. Welcome to The Civil Fleet, a podcast by civilfleet.com that focuses on the NGO refugee rescuers in the central Mediterranean and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Cowles
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2021 ©
  • Show Website
    The Civil Fleet Podcast