Crossing Continents

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Travel

Series focusing on foreign affairs issues

BBC Radio 4 FM

Crossing Continents: Sicily's Prisoner Fishermen

Sicily's Prisoner Fishermen

BBC Radio 4 - Crossing Continents, Sicily's Prisoner Fishermen

18 fishermen from Sicily are in jail in Benghazi accused of fishing in Libya's waters.

Eighteen fishermen from Sicily are in jail in Benghazi accused of fishing in Libya's waters.

18 fishermen from Sicily are in jail in Benghazi, accused of fishing in Libya’s waters.  And in this part of the Mediterranean rich in the highly-prized and lucrative red prawn, these kinds of arrests are frequent.  Usually the Libyans release the men after negotiations.  This time it’s different.  Gen Khalifa Haftar – the warlord with authority over the east of Libya – is demanding a prisoner swap:  the freeing of 4 Libyans in jail in Sicily convicted of human trafficking and implicated in the deaths of 49 migrants, in return for the fishermen.  For Crossing Continents, Linda Pressly explores a little-known conflict in the Mediterranean - the so-called War of the Red Prawn, and its fall-out.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Crossing Continents

Sicily's Prisoner Fishermen

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4