Amnesty International condemned Friday the extension of the memorandum of understanding between Libya and Italy on immigration for an additional three years without any amendments.

The organization explained that the decision ignores what it described as the horrific violations committed against tens of thousands of migrants and refugees in Libya, stressing that renewing the memorandum with the same terms is a shame and shows to what extent the European Union is ready to support those who commit these violations.

"During the past three years and based on the agreement between Libya and Italy, at least 40,000 immigrants, including thousands of children and women, were intercepted and returned to Libya," the organization stated.

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