France ordered to compensate Somali pirates

The European Court of Human Rights ordered France to compensate nine Somali pirates accused of carrying out attacks on French ships in 2008, citing judicial delays.

Judges stated that the pirates should have been brought in front of a judge when they arrived in France “without delay,” but that failed to happen.

They argue that authorities had enough time to draw up charges against the pirates from the time they were arrested off the coast of Somalia to their arrival in France.

They added that holding the men for an additional 48 hours was a violation of their rights to “liberty and security under the European Convention on Human Rights,” according to the BBC.

The men were arrested by the French army shortly after hostages on a cruise ship and a yacht were released on a $2.1 million and $2 million ransom in two separate missions. The men were then brought to France for trial.

Upon their arrival, the men were divided into two groups. The first group remained in custody for four days while the other group was held for six days and 16 hours.

France was ordered to pay 9,000 euros to one group and close to 7,000 euros to the other.

The number of Somali pirates carrying out attacks on the coast of Somalia has dwindled in recent years due to the presence of international naval action.