Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Discrimination against Muslims highest in Malta
Two out of every three Muslims living in Malta feel discriminated against, according to an EU-wide survey by the Fundamental Rights Agency.
In most cases, the Muslims interviewed, most of them illegal immigrants, said the discrimination against them by the Maltese was not attributed to their religious belief but to their colour.
Still, with 64 per cent of Muslims saying they felt discriminated against in the past 12 months prior to the interview, Malta features at the top of the EU-ranking. It is followed by Italy with 55 per cent and Finland with 47 per cent.
The results published by the FRA in Brussels yesterday are an extrapolation of a larger survey of immigrant and ethnic groups' experiences of discrimination and racist crime held in the EU last year.
The first results of the general survey published last month had also indicated a high level of discrimination in Malta against people of different ethnic origin. The data published so far showed that 55 per cent of the 500 migrants of African origin interviewed said they felt discriminated against because of their ethnic origin. The new survey, focusing exclusively on the Muslim community in Europe, shows that discrimination is perceived as well spread in the Maltese community.
Asked specifically to say in which areas they felt discriminated, 43 per cent of Muslims pointed out work-related environments (while looking for work) and 25 per cent said they were actually discriminated at work.
The Muslim community also feels it is treated differently to others with regard to public health services or at shops. In fact, 20 per cent complained they were not given the right services or felt discriminated by health care personnel and 33 per cent said they felt treated differently while at a cafè, bar or a night club.
The FRA pointed out that, since the majority of Muslims interviewed were illegal immigrants or asylum seekers, this could have had an effect on the way they felt about their host community.
"The example of Malta merits more careful examination in future research. The high levels of experienced discrimination should be nuanced as they affect primarily asylum seekers who enter the country in disproportionate numbers to those in other member states and to the size of the country's population, as UNHCR figures show.
"This could mean that Malta would stand to benefit from targeted EU support in its efforts to deal with discrimination in relation to specific groups, such as asylum seekers," the report said.
According to the FRA overall findings, Muslims feel discriminated all over Europe.
On average, one in three Muslim respondents were discriminated against in the past 12 months and 11 per cent experienced a racist crime. The highest levels of discrimination took place in employment.
FRA said that, in common with other minority groups, most Muslim respondents (79 per cent) in the EU did not report discriminatory incidents and cases of racist crime to any organisation, be it state-run or not.
Young Muslim respondents, in particular, indicate that they have little faith in the police.
Overall, 59 per cent of respondents believe that "nothing would happen or change through reporting" and 38 per cent say that "it happens all the time" and, therefore, they do not make the effort to report incidents.
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Joe Fenech
Jun 3rd 2009, 00:06
Marlene Vella:
Don't really need to become a UK2 - who wants to be governed by politicians who are weeds and who are ready to destroy a nation and Europe for the sake of votes? You'll see the big trashing the Labour party is in for in the UK....
Marlene Vella
Jun 2nd 2009, 14:08
Do we really have to be named and shamed to address an issue in this country?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8078344.stm
Carla Vella
May 31st 2009, 12:16
Yes, in Malta many of us are not only discriminatory but also fundamentally racist, man overtly so and, rather than just moan about this, there needs to be a big injection of anti-discriminatory teaching, be that in schools, churches, clubs, etc... and the media has a huge role in moving this forrward. However, Immigration Law & Regulations are there for all and so should be applied to all. If illegal, act on it.
David Busuttil
May 31st 2009, 03:11
Ashamed being Maltese when I read this!
R. Camilleri
May 30th 2009, 22:05
This is not discrimination. It is propably just dislike for the illegality of peaple (black, white, or of any religion) who enter Malta illegally, and impose their presance and culture on us. It has got nothing to do with neither religion nor colour.
Joe Fenech
May 30th 2009, 16:07
Terms like 'discrimination' are only used in democratic societies.
Name me ONE democratic Muslim society?
So...PLEASE...spare us the lecturing!
Joe Fenech
May 30th 2009, 16:00
Brian Smith:
"in the UK it has now got so stupid that we can't even say blackboard it has to be chalkboard and the bombers were Aisian doctors working for the Nation Health in the UK just imagine the harm they could have done to English patients...."
This play of words goes on everywhere in this ailing Europe.
In France, where virtually all the gang crimes are North African, the media describe these as 'youth gangs' which is insulting to the native youths.
To your list of 'anti racism policies' (!) one can add: Baba Rainbow instead of Baba Blacksheep; the word Golliwog is forbidden too; classics like 'Mind You Language' and 'The Black and White Minstrel Show' are censored...
UK councils have stooped so low that they produce documents in about 8 languages (with English being the only European one).
It is sad that the BNP, Front National and other Nationalist parties (nothing to do with our pathetic local version who was only Nationalist under Nerik Mizzi!) are vilified by the media and education institutions - just for defending their country!
Joe Fenech
May 30th 2009, 14:55
Brian Smith:
I believe Europe should be for Europeans and that a country should be mainly composed of natives. I believe there should be an influx control and that their is control over benefits, housing, etc.
When millions of Polish people literally invaded the UK a couple of years ago, it was a disaster. Not only one come frequently across cases where 10 men share a house and go home just to sleep. This means that landlords push rent prices up, and do not fulfil their obligations (eg doing up the places they rent). On top, many Polish and easterners claim benefits for family members who are not living in the UK!
Re council housing: it is virtually impossible for Europeans to get a council flat in the EU (waiting lists are about 10 years), however you get Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, and Africans coming over to Europe and they get council houses outright on the basis that they have a lot of children, they are unemployed, they have got illnesses, they need help!
MALTA: you don't have a clue what's awaiting you unless syou stop bein silly an dlearn from the bitter experiences of other countries.
John Meli
May 30th 2009, 12:43
It is good to note that in most of Arab states are not free, ruled by oppressive, dictatorial regimes, which deny their citizens 9ncluding muslims their basic freedoms of political expression, speech, press and due process and that the reason why they try to come to European countries because we use freedom of expression. According to the "Arab Human Development" it reported and was published by a group of Arab researchers from the UN Development Program which concluded, that out of the seven regions of the world, Arab countries had the lowest freedom score. They also had the lowest ranking for "voice and accountability," a measure of various aspects of the political process, civil liberties, political rights and independence of the media.
So by being in our country or in any European country, they are already living in a free state and through time they can improve their situation, but they must learn to walk and dance our tune of living and culture. They cannot expect to import their culture in our countries, but have to adopt our system, otherwise, as they said, go back to from where you left.
C. Farrugia
May 30th 2009, 10:02
I am truly sick and tired of these reports appearing DAILY. What is the TRUE reason for being bombarded by such reports?
Maltese people would be much more interested in reports of how THEY are being discriminated against in their OWN country! And there are a multitude of reasons. MALTA is for the Maltese, and anyone who doesn't like it here can just *up and leave*. NO ONE will open the door to his/her house so anybody could just keep walking in ILLEGALLY, make it HIS/HER OWN home, and expect NOT to abide by such home's rules!!!
Brian Smith
May 30th 2009, 10:00
Joe Fenech is right, people in the UK are totally fed up that the Government be it Labour or Conservative, they are selling us down the line when it comes to immigration, I have been coming to Malta since the early 80s and I am begining to feel like a spot on a domino and yes the BNP will do well this time because it wants to stop immigration and start repatreation, and just like it is now in Malta, Maltese people for Maltese jobs get back to British people for British jobs, in the UK it has now got so stupid that we can't even say blackboard it has to be chalkboard and the bombers were Aisian doctors working for the Nation Health in the UK just imagine the harm they could have done to English patients, this is not racism it is fact, I could go on and on and on.
Michael Neville Cassar
May 30th 2009, 09:31
Let us be clear ,This is our home our country, and our way of life. I and many Maltese are not going to be intimidate, into changing our culture by anybody who ever they or he/she maybe Muslims and their belief are contradicted by what their fellow Muslims have been doing to other innocent human beings .Blowing people and other ethnic murders are not our way of life. This is why we do not trust our self whole hearted , we want to live in peace . It is not the colour that we are afraid of, but carriers of disease, most of us feel discriminated by our own Maltese compatriots, for jobs and many other things because the islands are too small to generate a decent job, for decent living. In other words survival.
lgalea
May 30th 2009, 09:28
FRANK MERCIECA
You can rest assured that neither I nor the vast majority of Maltese citizens who are against ILLEGAL immigration are ashamed.
They are ILLEGAL Mercieca.
This includes those who have overstayed their visa.
Malta being the smallest most overpopulated nation should only be left for Maltese Citizens and to those who marry a Maltese citizens and no one else.
J Oatmon
May 30th 2009, 08:19
@ FRANK MERCIECA
There is a dirrerence between objecting to bad behavior, crime, illegal immigration, and intolerance to women and Christians - and racism.
Lumping them all together and branding them as rascism is daft and incorrect !
To see a racist anti Christian government law in place, (in a place where women are not allowed to drive cars - Saudi) read David Spiteri's comments (as follows):
"I am discriminated when I go to Saudi and a bible is not allowed in the country. So - hey, muslims: wake up: non discrimination works both ways. You come here illegal and you want to impose your values onto me. I go to your country legally and I am not allowed to practice my values. And I am supposed to feel guilty?"
Charity begins at home - so when the Saudis change there racist and anti women laws and actions, then, and only then will consider changing my position, (which is I object to their actions as racist) but not before.
John Spiteri
May 30th 2009, 07:47
@David Spiteri
Good point man!
Joe Fenech
May 30th 2009, 01:41
The European has lost his self-convidence and is letting the minorities lead him.
Go and see the catastrophic situation in France (and the French are no pussy cats!) - go to suburbs of Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Lille, etc and see the non-stop fighting between north-African gangs who simply knife or kill each other over drug-business. Go ans see for yourselves 'unemployed' north Africans go round in Mercedeces and BMWs! Then when you're in a train or bus: who makes the noise, puts his feet on the seats, tears the seats, picks on people and harasses females?: definitely not the native French who ooze civilisation!
Call it clash of cultures, colonial aftermath - but there are big problems out there and we'd better learn from them before we vanish as a nation. This is VERY SERIOUS and no NGO or Church official should tell us otherwise!
ms g hoare
May 30th 2009, 00:53
@ FRANK MERCIECA YOU CARRY ON TO FEEL ASHAMED FOR BEING MALTESE YOU ARE ASHAMED OF YOU YOURSELF NOT OF BEING MALTESE .
I AM A PROUD MALTESE AND WILL BE TILL I DIE .
I lived within Muslims for 18 years and i never had any problems not with religion , but when it came to being diffrent i sufferd racisim i was the white girl and they were the dark skined people i suffered discrmination coz i was short , i suffered discrimination coz i am married to an English man , i suffered discrimination coz of my language / accent so what is wrong with MALTA upsolutely Nothing Malta never had trouble before all these illegal imigrants came to Malta. So what alot dont agree in Politics in Malta but that is life iT doesnt make me ashamed of being MALTESE , THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE MALTESE AGAINST mUSLIM , IT IS Fundamental Rights Agency. THAT IS CREATING AND STEARING THE PROBLEM TRYING TO MAKE MALTA LOOKING BAD
Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci
May 30th 2009, 00:29
It is incredible that this was given headlines prominence by a major newspaper. The feeling of discrimination is mainly caused by the dicriminated wanting to violate local laws, tradition and customs. It is caused by the discriminated not wanting to abide by local laws which are historically rooted and them wanting, demanding a priveleged status within a legal state. Of course I would feel discriminated if I was not given the possibility to change my rented residence into a church of whatever religion, of course I would feel discriminated if the state gives the liberty for film directors to produce films invoking the violent nature of Islam--in fact I would feel so discriminated that even murdering the film director would be just---such as happened to the film director Van Gogh, of course I would feel discriminated if I am not given the possibilty to hoard bombs and amunition for some future attack, of course I would feel discriminated if I am arrested for destroying a historic art/religious object such as the Valetta Crucifixion, of course I would feel discriminated if I am not given permission to break windows, doors etc.,.........of course due to all this I feel discriminated
Martin Spiteri
May 30th 2009, 00:28
I am smiling at this conclusion, after all , who has interviewed who? Nobody has interviewed me , and I can assure every body that I am proud for a change we rank the highest to voice ourselves against this discrimination against us. Any person come wade to the shore and discriminate me out ot our taxes , yet heaven help anyone who dares go to their places the same way they come to us? Where is discrimination? What a joke!!
Anthony White
May 29th 2009, 23:58
In reference to Mr Fenech, the comment "Malta should only be for the Maltese and people from the EU"
Mr Fenech and all others that have the same idea. can I remind you that the majority of the people that live in the EU were trying to kill and destroy Malta and the Maltese only a few years ago say maybe fifty years?
Have you also forgotten during 1970's that the English were dumping the rubbish and paint etc into the harbour and damaging Maltese boats.
English Soldiers were with pay packets bulging in the 1970's and abusing Maltese girls and children, and the Maltese had to scrounge from the British Barracks dust bins with a wage of less that nine pounds (remember that those days the Engish pound was also the same as the Maltese pound.That the English forces sent two Vulcan bomber aircraft to crash in Malta around the sametime.If you are going to be true to Malta - why not chant the same cry as was shouted in those times, and then run around stealing from Malta as now it belongs to the maltese and not the queen. This is all in the Maltese history.
Anthony White
May 29th 2009, 23:31
Racialism, just take a look at how many maltese drivers ride around trying to pick up these illegal immigrants and migrants for prostitution, I have to work in areas close to these barracks where they keep these immigrants.
Just go sometime and watch the amounts of drivers trying to pickup both male or females, because they are desperate for money. How many companies abuse them and employ them for next to nothing for wages, no insurances, no personal safety equipment and even watch how they are forced to work under cranes on building sites and factories without any protection, and then tell me we are humans!!!
Edward Zammit
May 29th 2009, 23:03
When the EU starts to take more serious and tangible action on illegal immigration, maybe then the Maltese people will become less hostile towards every Arab and African be they Muslim or not. If they are not happy about the situation here maybe they should open their doors and invite them to their homeland and treat them better, until then ............
Bill Khan
May 29th 2009, 21:53
The FRA report is highly unfair to the maltese people. They are not racist. they are simply reacting to the situation i.e hundreds of illegal immigrants arriving on the small island.
And then these immigrants having being rescued by the maltese navy, tell the EU , they are mistreated and being discriminated against.
The immigrants hide the place of their origin, and what persecution they are running away from? They can hardly communicate with the locals, have nothing in common with them at all. They roam around as aliens and for many become a fear of the un-known.
The problem is bigger than merely labelling the maltese as a racist grouping. To my mind this is simply diverting the attention away from the real problem , which is that Malta a small island already has too many illegal immigrants being rescued and brought on shore on a daily basis.
Is it possible that EU is trying to shrug its responsibility by blaming it all on the population by unfairly labelling it racist? As i said before the government has to tackle it perhaps coming to agreement (Through EU brokerage) to send the illegal immigrants to a designated hub in Libya.
john calleja
May 29th 2009, 21:50
why they do not go back to their country of origin, certainly they would not be discriminated against their being amongst their folk.
David Spiteri
May 29th 2009, 21:26
I am discriminated when I go to Saudi and a bible is not allowed in the country. So - hey, muslims: wake up: non discrimination works both ways. You come here illegal and you want to impose your values onto me. I go to your country legally and I am not allowed to practice my values. And I am supposed to feel guilty? Ha!
Eugenio Taliana
May 29th 2009, 20:53
Malta is such a small island that when a good number of immigrants are left to roam freely amongst us, the impact would be much bigger than when the same amount of immigrants are released into a much more bigger place, say, like Italy - the Maltese hearing so much negative news about African countries, I guess, think twice about trusting anyone coming from that region - we read about religious groups fighting with each other, about genocides and about small children fighting with guns - so how can we trust an immigrant. It is not the colour and it is not their religion we don't trust - but it is what we hear from the news which makes us horrified about these people. So before anyone points fingers it would be better if our press and also the foreign press shows us something positive about these people.
FRANK MERCIECA
May 29th 2009, 20:30
I am so ashamed to be Maltese, after reading all this racism and hatred against fellow human beings. The Maltese people are not racist because they are illegal, its because of their colour, and nothing you all say will change my mind. Being racist is a sign of ignorance and lack of knowledge, that is why the majority of people are not racist bloggers. You always get the usual suspects on this blog. I am not religious, but I am a complete and rounded human being, hence I call a spade , a spade.
Mark Galea
May 29th 2009, 20:19
I,for one, would not discriminate upon Muslims if they behaved like most other visitors to our islands do. Other foreigners come here, bring a little bit of their culture with them, and return to their country, leaving some of their money behind. These people come here, pretend to be the injured party by saying they are discriminated against, create the impression that we treat them badly, but settle down here, prey on our limited resources, and won't leave. Soon after, when there are too many of them, they start demanding their rights and infringing on our own culture, making us lose our identity. This is precisely what happened in larger countries, and is in my opinion particulary evident in the U.K and France. I would really hate to see Malta become just another country without the identity of the Maltese.....an identity with its pros and cons but still....ours! Now go on! Call me racist!
Joe Fenech
May 29th 2009, 18:29
Malta should only be for the Maltese and people from the EU.
Discrimination? Racism?: wait for the UK elections next week - the British National Party will be thriving! The Europeans are just fed up of this influx of Muslims and Africans who instead of escaping reality, should be taking the bull by the horns and turning things round in their own country. Easy solutions benefit no one! This is a demographic and a culture compatibility issue nothing else.
"Tout le monde chez soi" (everyone should be in his home) say the very wise French!
Anthony White
May 29th 2009, 18:24
I have read the comments of other persons on this subject - some of these comments are a insult to the writers own family and theirselves.
Lookback over the past and present an see for yourselves that evn today there is very little respect for ourselves as a maltese race it is mentioned of the dark ages.
Open your eyes - DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT FREEDOM MEANS.
Most have no idea - for sure.
Even today here in Malta racial and political discrimination is common place even between brother and sister and mother even father and child.
Look around you its obvious.
The daily lies to each other - the low wages - the unworthy promotions that are issued.
The pain imposed on each other and it is also stated they came go back to wence they came, what about the maltese people that are suffering every day and we still refuse to see that we are racialists and distroying the world we live in to show how powerful we can be.
Wake up before you end up destroying yourselves.
m azzopardi
May 29th 2009, 17:48
Well...they will always sell the sob story that they are being discriminated against. I think the Maltese and Italians are fed up(rightly so) of these illegal immigrants that come here, cost the taxpayers a fortune and pretend that we should give them our country !!! You give them a finger and they take your whole hand !!!
If they're unhappy here they should leave immediately!!!
T Mifsud
May 29th 2009, 17:42
Why on Earth are we talking about this? What's the news? A certain James Dimech below said it all about Muslims and why they will never integrate. If we do what they do here in their country, we would be discriminated against. But we dont do it.
But more than Muslims, it's the illegal immigrant issue which tops the list. I said it before and will repeat it as a very strong principle I hold. ALL the illegal immigrants here in Malta should leave the island, but return as legal tourists with appropriate visa and health check. On entry as a tourist, they will be welcome. The story is very different then because instead of leeching on us, tey will be directly contributing in our country.
James Muscat
May 29th 2009, 17:27
@ Wilfred Camilleri who said:
"The situation in Malta is not so much racism as it is a situation where the population has reached the breaking point when it comes to illegal immigrants showing up on its shores and expecting to be treated like they have a God-given right to be here. "
My life has changed surprisingly little since the arrival of immigrants...and don't give me any rubbish about the marsa bus stop...i've waited on that stop a million times, as i have walked the streets of birzebbuga, and gone to balzan square at night without any feelings of peril...as for albert town i never frequented that place before immigrants and probably will never have to go there in my life.
lgalea
May 29th 2009, 17:23
Mohabf Fahmi
We know the problem.
They are ILLEGAL and should be sent back forthwith.
Joseph Sciberras, Hahaha.
Robert Callus It is not all Muslims as such because I also have a very good friend who is a Muslim, he is married to a Maltese citizen and has himself become a Maltese citizen and he doesn't feel the least bit discriminated against.
It is the extremists and fundamentalists including those of other religions who stir up trouble wherever they go who feel discriminated because they expect everyone to bend back to allow them to do whatever they please.
There was a very recent case in the England where a Hindu wanted to be cremated on an open funeral pyre like they do in India and he even took the British authorities to court, but the court upheld English law and didn't allow it. So should the British authorities be accused of racial or religious discrimination?
c. camilleri
May 29th 2009, 17:05
Cannot these people realise that they are not wanted here? What kind of democracy have we when Govt and Opposition and other related NGO persists to assist these people to stay here against the wish of the great majority of the population.
Anthony White
May 29th 2009, 16:55
I have been in Malta since 1972, every company and job that I have worked I have received severe discrimination from many persons, and I was born in England.So I have maximum experience of discrimination.
I have been treated as if I am a criminal and the jealousy that is demonstrated is heavy.
I have felt for many years as if Malta is a prison sentence of LIFE.
I work for an international company but certain managers demonstrate their racail discrimination openly and will NOT be happy till they make sure I am DESTROYED and not just dismissed or I leave the company.
Steven Camilleri
May 29th 2009, 16:40
Why don't they make a survey in the uk , and we will se who is disciminized, the muslims or the or the British?
Joanne Micallef
May 29th 2009, 16:39
I think African migrants feel discriminated regardless of their faith, especially since I find it difficult to understand how one is supposed to know that another is of Muslim faith by just looking at him. Anyway like I posted yesterday, those that are not happy here are free to make use of the voluntary repatriation scheme and leave.
Secondly discrimination although wrong happens daily to different people for different reasons, women, gays, and people with special needs to name a few have all been victims of discrimination for years. So please stop insulting us, it is reports like these that make matters worse for these African migrants, as they fuel the people’s anger towards those that come here illegally, uninvited, and imposing themselves on our very limited recourses.
Robert Callus
May 29th 2009, 16:14
No matter what one thinks what should be done about the migration problem, we have become a filthy racist country. I had a black Muslim friend, a nice bloke, not a migrant. He was having a working experience here (he's French). He had to leave earlier cause he couldn't stand the racism. It is shameful.
The comments on how Christians are treated in counties with Sharia makes no sence since a person is only responsible for what HE does. Why is everyone implying Muslims in Malta agree with the treatment Christians get in other countries.
Also, does anyone know how many Muslims (especially from Sudan) are here because they fled from extremists in their homeland? I don't think so. Probably most people spreading racial hatred here never had the guts to have a conversation with a Muslim.
ALBERT FENECH
May 29th 2009, 16:12
@ Louis Vella
Bravo and well said! This is a Christian and westernised country and that is how it will remain. The Maltese have always looked and stepped forward. We have no intention of stepping back centuries to go back to the Dark Ages, a condition under which most extreme Muslim countries thrive, locking up their women, not allowing them to drive, depriving their children of education and not even allowing people to play football! That's not for us thank you. Whoever comes here either orients themselves to us, or they can return from whence they came. We don't need them and we don't want them - period.
Vince Borg
May 29th 2009, 16:12
The FRA carried out a survey. Big Deal! Nowhere was it stated that the results were checked and verified. Ergo, the survey was meant only to give exposure to a particular group of people.
Coming to such conclusions is highly irresponsible of an agency whose mission is to instill a sense of responsibility in others!!
The whole exercise only proves that the FRA lacks credibility.
By the way, who is funding these reports???
Wilfred L Camilleri
May 29th 2009, 16:11
Racism and discrimination are two-edged swords! Bleeding-heart liberals and socialists have a pennant for playing the racist card in order to push their social agenda on other people. The situation in Malta is not so much racism as it is a situation where the population has reached the breaking point when it comes to illegal immigrants showing up on its shores and expecting to be treated like they have a God-given right to be here. The comments by Adrian Aquilina are preposterous. He obviously does not know anything about Malta’s history and its Catholic heritage. No one forced religion on Malta. The Maltese population converted to Catholicism on their own. Wars were invented by whites? Has Mr. Aquilina ever been in school? Wars have been around since the dawn of mankind. And by the way Mr. Aquilina, gun powder was invented by the Chinese! Perhaps if you feel Malta is so uncivilized, you should go live in more civilized places like Somalia, Darfur, Zimbabwe, etc., etc.!!
Joseph Sciberras
May 29th 2009, 15:59
Actually, we did not need this report to show how racist, xenophobic and intollerant we are as a nation. The posts below speak volumes on their own!
Etienne Bonanno
May 29th 2009, 15:35
@Adrian Aquiina
1. It's impressive how much you hate yourself and your fellow countrymen.
2. Studies show that genetically the Maltese are predominantly European having only a small percentage of African genes. Among other occasions, this was stated on TVM by Profs. Wismayer on Bondi+ IIRC.
3. Where do you get your statistics re. rapists, serial killers etc? Given that South Africa is the crime capital of the world, I find your statements strange to say the least.
4. Guns were invented by whites, yes, but wars?? You're kidding, right? Take a look at the Old Testament. War has been around as long as man has been around, if not more.
Ernest Vella
May 29th 2009, 15:34
I cannot understand this rumour from muslims. Did they never ask themselves if there former countries did discriminate against Christians or other faiths? Is a Christian or any other faith free to speak or to pray in there countries? They expect us to respect them but do they respect us? Maybe you must pay a major tax for you're not a muslim is is not discrimination...this happened in a part of Pakistan...maybe they are fundamentalists, but who can say what they really are?
In few years time they will ask us to take the cross out of our public places, from the Maltese flag, they will ask them for sure as it happened in Italy. I do respect people of whatever faith they are, but we pretend to respect.
The Racism as I see it, it truly increased but this in the fault of EU, the UN and who is letting those illegal immigrants entering Malta without doing nothing to help us. Its easy to preach when you don't face the problem face to face.
louise vella
May 29th 2009, 15:24
When there were no Muslims in Malta, they never complained and neither did we. Then they started coming, uninvited, unwelcome and unwanted. We never asked them to come and we are not stopping them from leaving. So if they are unhappy, why don’t they leave? They’ll be happier and we’ll be happier too.
louise vella
May 29th 2009, 14:59
Will GonziPN be forced to withdraw all history books from schools and replace them with new ones not making any reference to the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman (i.e. Muslim) Turks? Will all speeches on 8th September have to omit references to the Christian versus Muslim nature of the Siege of Malta? Will the 8th September be abolished as a national feast?
adrian aquilina
May 29th 2009, 14:26
malta is the most racist country i have lived in with the usual hypocracy.example: someone says they hate black people then go dancing to black music.2 things i find strange..1,the maltese blood line is mainly from north africa not europe,catholic religion being a religion forced on this country as it was forced on europe.2,nearly 100% of serial killers,most rapists,nearly all paedophiles are white,kids who shoot up schools are white,guns were invented by whites as were wars etc..take people as they are..the way most maltese drive,speak,illigally hunt,cover up paedophile priests etc we are not so civilised here anyway.
Paul Bonnici
May 29th 2009, 14:20
I hope the EU carries out a survey in Egypt or in any other Muslim country with a Christian population to see what discrimination Christians face there. All Christians are discriminated against in all Muslim countries. We don’t see armed policemen and soldiers armed to their teeth with machine guns outside the Corradino mosque unlike all churches in Egypt, I witnesses this myself and I found it very disturbing.
In Malaysia the government passed a law to prevent Muslim Christians from using the word Allah which is the Malay word for god. Can you imagine a similar law in Malta preventing Maltese Catholics from using the word ‘Alla‘?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7163391.stm
victor vella
May 29th 2009, 13:15
If they don't like it there are no fences and they can leave anythime they like,in my opinion it is not thier colour, religous or political belief no, they came uninvited, are causeing a problem to the country so they are not welcome.Their boats are there and we would also pay them to leave so what are they waiting for?
Mohabf Fahmi
May 29th 2009, 13:07
find out the reasons for the discrimination, solve them, and the entire problem goes up in smoke!
Joseph Sciberras
May 29th 2009, 13:03
Do we need any further proof to show what a racist, xenophobic and intolerant nation we are?
louise vella
May 29th 2009, 12:53
Boatload after boatload. Without documents. Without money. Without belongings. Boatload after boatload. Illegally. Police conduct unknown. Health condition unknown. Personal history unknown. Boatload after boatload. Expecting everything from us. As if by right, when they have no rights. Boatload after boatload. How can they expect to be welcome?
joe scerri
May 29th 2009, 12:37
Have the Fundamental Rights Agency ever carried out a survey (if they are allowed that is) about discrimination against Christians in Muslim countries?
P Debono
May 29th 2009, 12:36
We pay taxes for your free accommodation, food, shelter and survival and this is the thanks we get?
You're more than welcome to leave if you hate it so much here.
E.Muscat
May 29th 2009, 12:31
Discrimination?Try NOT to get blame in a traffic accident in an islamic country :you are always to blame if you are christian because they tell you should not be in this islamic country in the first place! I see moslem kids in our state schools:try to get schooling for your kids in an islamic state:you will have to pay thousands of euros to private schools( if it is allowed) since state are only for the locals.That is real discrimination.If the moslems practise discrimination against the christians in all their countries(even against their few local christians) they think that it is their right not to be discriminated while in Malta?
Etienne Bonanno
May 29th 2009, 12:16
Given that Sharia law demands the discrimination against non-muslims, including the imposition of extra taxes for example, I find this article - amusing.
carmel debono
May 29th 2009, 11:58
Try conducting the same survey in Africa to see what the results will be!
o.galea
May 29th 2009, 11:51
the discrimination is against illegal immigrants.
colour does not come into it....
it just so happens that most illegal immigrants are black and muslim.
Let's be careful an not become like the uk where many coloured / muslim people
turn every situation into a "racist" issue. and every matter is seemingly "politically incorrect" to somebody or other....
an ass is an ass...IRRELEVANT of race, colour, or creed
We can all find something in our lives that is unfair and can be listed under discrimination....
and this is a sad fact of life starting at an early age at school and the proverbial "teacher's pet". Let's not give undue importance to this issue. Many christians feel discriminated against in muslim countries.... I'm sure it's not headline news in Libya, Dubai, Kuwait and such like.
Bryan Fiore
May 29th 2009, 11:44
Thats hardly a surprise, given that the average Maltese is insular, ignorant, motivated by greed and doesn’t have a shred of moral fibre on their person. But in their defence, most people are like that.
Carmelo Palmier Cecy
May 29th 2009, 11:38
It is not difficult to FEEL discriminated against when one is an illegal immigrant in an overpopulated small island. Most people, whether Muslims or not , would claim that they have suffered from discrimination at some time or other in their lives; and this does not necessarily correspond to extramental reality.
This is not to say that there is no discrimination against Muslims in this country; yet, the level of this discrimination, which I believe to be low, cannot be judged from a survey that asks the illegal immigrants what they feel.
Concerning the low level of discrimination that prevails here, as in most other civilised countries, it is not true to say that anybody is disliked because of his colour; the truth is that most Maltese do not like the presence of HUGE numbers of illegal immigrants, irrespective of their colour or creed.
Yet I believe that most Maltese would be happy to welcome our nation's fair quota of people who are fleeing from their own homeland if these people were to be fairly distributed between all the civilised nations. That is where the EU should come in to solve the real problem; such surveys had best be disregarded.
lgalea
May 29th 2009, 11:15
They are ILLEGAL and they are not wanted by the vast majority of Maltese citizens.
Being ILLEGAL they have no right to work in Malta.
Apart from that, most of them have never attended school and do not speak English, so how do they expect to get a job?
What the FRA should do is to stop interfering in our internal affairs, put theer money where their mouth is and either take them to the mainland european countries or repatriate them.
No amount of money will make us accept them to integrate with Maltese society and then experience the trouble that happened in Brixton, Paris and other places. NO WAY.
Joe Grima (Brussels)
May 29th 2009, 11:05
cont/.....
The title in this article is misleading. As it states clearly 'the discrimination against them by the Maltese was not attributed to their religious belief but to their colour'. So the title should have read 'Discrimination against illegal immigrants...', and FRA should have asked OTHERS the same questions they asked the Muslims. By focusing ONLY on the Muslims, and not other religions, aren't FRA themselves 'DISCRIMINATING'? I do hope that other illegal immigrants residing in Malta ask FRA why they were discriminated. When FRA 'discovered' that they were discriminated against not for their religion, but for their colour, they should have WIDENED their survey. Many migrants from Eritrea, Somalia and other countries are christian, or hold other beliefs.
Please FRA, stop discriminating.
Joe Grima (Brussels)
May 29th 2009, 10:53
It is obvious that Malta, with Italy, should have the highest percentage among European countries. After all we have the highest number of illegal immigrants per head, taking into account the size of the island. As the report says, most are discriminated against not entirely because of their religion, but because they are illegal migrants, etc...
FRA's next survey should focus on how the MALTESE feel discriminated in this matter! How with our limited space and resources we have to bear most of this burden alone. At least it seems from the report, that they have come to this conclusion....AT LONG LAST. Now for some action PLEASE!
The fact that they were accepted, given free medical attention, fed, housed (albeit not the best), clothed etc...should be appreciated. Many were saved from certain death, thanks to our brave military who risk THEIR lives in the job. I agree that the TRUE refugees should be helped further, but how much can tiny Malta do more? After all, even needy the Maltese have a limit to social services that they get!!!!
James Dimech
May 29th 2009, 10:51
I travelled a lot in Arab countries and Muslims were always warm and welcoming. However for some reason nearly all my experiences with Muslims in Malta were negative. They do not respect their obligations and they cannot be trusted. They also tend to to be highly involved in shady business and behaviour. This is not about racism or discrimination. It is about facts. Just look at the percentage of Muslims we have in Kordin...and these are the ones which have been arraigned
john fenech
May 29th 2009, 10:30
It is happening quite frequently that reports are found to be missing salient information! For instance the above article is based on interviews conducted by FRA in 14 EU countries. The exercise was to explore possible discrimination towards legal immigrants and was collected through a questioner (Minorities & Discrimination survey questioner 2009) details in the FRA website: http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/home/home_en.htm
As regard work discrimination, question A4 reads:
‘Would you say that, with equivalent qualifications or diplomas, the following people (African Muslims) would be less likely than others to get the job, be accepted for training or be promoted?’
Therefore the objective conclusion about discrimination at work has to be based on the merits of question A4!
Furthermore comments have to be judged in view to the question and the conditions stipulated for the answers in the questioner! While those conducting the survey failed to verify the comments with the local authorities. Hence was the conclusion intend to be biased ?
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
May 29th 2009, 10:29
Zgur li mhux diskrimanti kontra fit-twemmin taghhom ghax mhux talli ghandhom Moskeja talli ma tinhtiegx ghassa maghha biex tharisha kif jinhtiegu l-ftit knejjes Isara li ssib fi ftit mill-pajjizi Misilma. Zgur mhux diskriminati kontra fis-sens tal-vjolenza moqzieza mkesksa minn fanatici religjuzi kif jigri f’pajjizi Misilma. Fil-fatt taw xhieda ta’ kemm Malta hi pajjiz miftuh meta ddecidew li jitolbu fl-iktar post prominenti li setghu sabu f’Tas-Sliema. Zgur mhux diskrimanti kontra fix-xoghol ghax hawn kull ghajnuna biex wiehed jipprotesta jekk dan fatt u sa fejn naf jien ma ttellghux kazi dwar dan. Mela kull ma ghandna hu li huma jghidu li huma diskrimanti kontra, meta car li m’humiex. Ma nafx x’iridu. Manku kull minoranza f’kull pajjiz tkun imharsa u meqjusa parti mill-pajjiz daqskemm huma, huma f’Malta.
Joseph Markham
May 29th 2009, 10:21
I think these people, who entered the country illegally, should be thankful that we are sheltering them, providing them with food and drink, free medical care, and generally looking after them in a much better manner than they did in their own country!
If they don't like it here, they can always go back from where they came from.
p.s. I don't care whether their colour is white, black, blue or yellow or whether they believe in one God, no god, or several gods....the issue here is not one of race or belief but of illegal immigration.