File photo of Italian marines Salvatore Girone (left) and Massimiliano Latorre. (Reuters photo)
India has criticized a European Parliament resolution for calling the detention of two Italian marines for nearly three years without charge a violation of human rights.
The men were detained over the shooting of two Indian fishermen in February 2012 while on anti-piracy duty aboard an Italian cargo ship off the Indian coast. They have yet to be formally charged in the case, irritating ties between the two countries.
The Indian foreign ministry said Friday that European lawmakers would have been well advised not to adopt the resolution as the case is still pending.
The European Parliament passed the resolution Thursday calling the marines continued detention a serious breach of human rights and said it hopes the prosecution can be conducted under Italian jurisdiction and/or through international arbitration.