More messages of sympathy with Jesuits

The arson that destroyed vehicles belonging to the Jesuit community has drawn more messages of condemnation.

The police believe the arson attack at St Aloysius college in Birkirkara in the early hours of last Monday morning is linked to the publication of an EU-commissioned report on the level of racism and xenophobia in Malta.

EAPN Malta, a network of NGOs and groups fighting poverty and social exclusion, said the attacks should be read as a wake-up call for society.

The Akkademja tal-Malti condemned the attack on one of its members, a Jesuit, and other people who work for social justice, particularly in relation to asylum seekers and refugees.

The academy aired its preoccupation that these events have happened in a country where freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and where racism is illegal.

The Christian Life Community (Malta), an Ignatian lay movement said it supported individuals and organisations who worked for tolerance and respect among men, women and children.

The violent acts against the property of the Jesuit community were acts of cowardice that will backfire on the perpetrators, it said.

The National Platform of Maltese Non-Governmental Development Organisations (NGDOs) condemned the attacks and expressed sympathy with the Jesuit community.

"These actions are meant to create an atmosphere of fear, terror and intimidation," it said.

The members of the Platform are the Centre for Faith and Justice, Jesuit Refugee Service, Kare4Kenya, Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Kopin, Moviment Graffiti, Share Foundation, SOS Malta, Third World Group and Voluntiera Lajci Missjunarji.