LONDON. It is World Maritime Day. Celebrations and diplomacy are ongoing on the Embankment by the River Thames, but Chief Officer Ali Albokhari remains incarcerated in a Turkish prison following an imposed guilty verdict in September 2024.
Ali is serving a 30-year sentence for alleged drugs offences, while his wife, Elena, tirelessly works seeking justice for her husband in a case which has been extensively covered in the maritime press circles.
The remainder of the crew, including the captain have been released. Ali remains behind bars.
Elena highlights that the guilty verdict was recorded without disclosure of the charges, or the evidence relied upon by the prosecution authorities.
“He has lost hope. He is dead in there. He now sees no help.” said Elena.
London Visit
Elena’s first visit to London this week has been not just a challenge, but a rollercoaster.
Subject to previous personal threats for her outspoken advocacy, she is a woman who is not afraid.
Elena has learned Turkish to be able to communicate with her lawyer and the Turkish judiciary, and travels with minimal support and resources while attempting to maintain pressure on maritime stakeholders.
Her mission is to ensure Ali is released and the wider issue of seafarer criminalisation properly addressed at international level.
On Wednesday 24 September, Elena attended an International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) meeting from which she left with both hope and positive support that the Federation was fully engaged with her husband’s case.
“After my meeting with ITF, it gave me a lot of hope. I felt a lot of support. I saw that people are involved in the case, which I highly appreciate.”
Today, and for the first time, Elena met with senior IMO representatives in person.
Respecting the need for ongoing diplomatic confidences, Elena is in no doubt that her case is now personal to IMO senior management, but she left disappointed.
She was unable to meet with the Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, though a follow-up meeting was promised.
“I do not want more meetings” she said. “I want this case finished. There is no evidence to prove my husband is guilty of the charges. No drugs were exhibited. No documentation disclosed by the Turkish authorities.”
ITF has released a short video from Elena.
ENDS.
News Coverage:
- Banged up abroad: The women fighting to free their seafarer husbands from a Turkish jail
- The curse of criminalisation
- Imprisoned seafarer’s wife threatens hunger strike
- ITF slams “outrageous” 30-year prison sentences for seafarers
Source: Human Rights at Sea 2025.
Certified Original. AI was not used in the drafting of this article.
Photo Credits: David Hammond.
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