Lowell to be indicted

A magistrate yesterday ruled that there were sufficient reasons for the indictment of Norman Lowell, the leader of the far-right group Imperium Europa, who is charged with inciting racial hatred.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera gave the ruling after the prosecution declared it had no more evidence in the case against Mr Lowell, 59, of Attard, who is pleading not guilty to using abusive and insulting words or gestures to incite racial hatred in Rabat on April 30 and in Qawra on May 8.

He is also charged with inciting racial hatred between December 2003 and March 27, 2006 through an article entitled Coming Cataclysmic Crisis, and insulting and denigrating the President of Malta on May 8.

The magistrate heard Superintendent Peter Paul Zammit explain how on examining the article Coming Cataclysmic Crisis, posted on the website of Imperium Europa, he noticed references to German dictator Adolf Hitler as the "hero". Israel was referred to as "the tribe" and defined as a terrorist state while Jews were labelled as "parasites".

The website also contained recordings of two speeches delivered by Mr Lowell at Nigret, limits of Rabat, on April 30 and at Ta' Fra Ben, Qawra, on May 8.

During both speeches Mr Lowell was heard speaking about immigrants and saying, amongst other things, that he would be the one to give the order to shoot and that he would plant a harpoon between their eyes.

In the May recording he also spoke about the President by using insulting words such as "lousy".

In light of the language used by Mr Lowell he was arrested and, on May 27, he released a statement in which he confirmed that the two online recordings where of his speeches.

Although he did not confirm who posted the recordings and the article on the website, he mentioned that he had delivered the speeches during a meeting with friends.

Police Inspector George Cremona added that during questioning Mr Lowell was asked whether he was aware that there existed a law against inciting racial hatred.

He replied that he could never accept that type of law unless it was proven in court.

Lawyer Emmy Bezzina represented Mr Lowell.