US Welcomes Seychelles Conviction Of 15 Pirates

The United States welcomed Wednesday the recent conviction in Seychelles of 15 pirates.

The sentencing, which happened on Monday, was in connection to an attack on a merchant ship and the abduction of 13 Iranian fishermen who were rescued by the U.S. Navy.

This sentencing brings the total number of convicted pirates to 631 – 98 in Seychelles alone – with 440 other suspected pirates facing justice in 21 countries, including the United States, the US State Department said.

“We appreciate Seychelles’ regional leadership on counter-piracy, as seen in their willingness to prosecute and incarcerate Somali pirates, as well as their hosting of a regional intelligence coordination center to support future piracy prosecutions,” said Victoria Nuland, State Department spokesperson in a statement.

According to Nuland, “The sentencing marks a positive step forward for building a strong and unified international response against piracy originating from Somalia and for promoting freedom of navigation worldwide.”