Kurt Sansone
'I feel that my life is in danger'
Abditafah Mohamed. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
The 17-year-old Somali who was beaten last week in an unprovoked roadside attack tells Kurt Sansone that he is afraid to return to Ħal Far.
Abditafah Mohamed was cycling along the main road in Ħal Far with a friend last Monday night when a black car pulled over beside the pavement. Three men got out and attacked them.
The friend managed to escape and ran back to the open centre to ask for help. Mr Mohamed was less fortunate.
With the help of a Somali interpreter he recounts what happened. His broken eyes stare into emptiness as he remembers how he was hit hard on the back of his head behind his right ear.
"I fell to the ground and my head felt dizzy. They continued to hit me. I was seeing but my head was spinning. I don't know what they hit me with or whether they were kicking me. I recall them putting me in the middle of the road before they left."
The attack left him with head injuries. His right eye is still bloodshot and doctors told him that he suffered internal bleeding in his head and ribs.
"I am doing well," he said, evidently trying to sound much better than he actually is. He describes the attackers as "young and very strong" and recalls seeing them with "things" in their hands. "They were using angry Maltese words. They were not kind people," he said.
The attack did not last more than five minutes but it was long enough. Almost five days later Mr Mohamed said he was scared to go back to the Ħal Far open centre.
"I feel that my life is in danger. I am scared and I do not know where I will go and what to do. I'm not going back to Ħal Far. It is a dangerous place. The government will decide where to put me," he said, obviously agitated.
Mr Mohamed does not know what the motivation for the attack might have been. After beating him up the aggressors stole his wallet, mobile phone and ID card.
"If they just wanted my money they wouldn't have tried to kill me and put me in the middle of the street," he said.
Contrary to what was initially reported last week, a man on a motorcycle found Mr Mohamed lying in the middle of the road.
A police statement had said that when the police were assisting Mr Mohamed a man riding a motorcycle had mistook the scene for a roadblock and drove by the side trampling over the Somali's legs.
From underneath the bed sheets he exposes his legs. There are no visible injuries.
According to Mr Mohamed, his friends, who arrived on the spot soon after, saw the man helping him.
"I would like to publicly thank this man because from what my friends told me he stopped in the middle of the road to make sure cars did not hit me and he also called the police. I do not know who he is," Mr Mohamed says.
He added that the police had not yet spoken to him about the incident but he hoped they would do everything in their power to catch these men.
"People are not all the same. Some are good, some are bad. However, I am scared to stay in Malta," he said when asked whether the incident had changed his impression of Maltese people.
Mr Mohamed arrived in Malta in July 2008. He was granted freedom from detention last January and was transferred to the Ħal Far open centre, the place he now does not want to return to for fear of his life.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
38 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
David Portelli
Jul 20th 2009, 21:20
He is putting the blame on the maltese people cause I don't know why is afraid to return to the detention centres amongst those thousands of illegal immigrants.That shows clearly it is someone from the detention centre behind this.
Cloe Gatt
Jul 13th 2009, 20:03
Sorry guys but i am not convinced., they all seemed to be happy to leave Malta and settle in France, i think these illegals are an ungratefull moaners, just like some i know from northern europe who happened to be guests.
Cristina Gerada
Jul 13th 2009, 12:48
it is sad that three people (of any race or nationality) found it neccessary to beat up, and leave for dead - in the middle of the road, a teenager who has already been through god knows what in his own country and in his journey to get here. And what stands out most to me is his refusal to generalise when asked if the incident had changed his impression of maltese people, "people are not all the same. Some are good, some are bad." If only everybody thought as he does, perhaps the world would be a better place.
Marion Pace
Jul 13th 2009, 09:27
Daniel Mebrahatu why do you not mention the Maltese person who risked his own life by stopping in the middle of the road to protect and help the victim? If i were Abditafah Mohamed
I would be safer at Hal Far if as you claim it was a racist attack by a Maltese gang as there I would be protected by my fellow country men or not? Before commenting further we should leave it to the police to complete their investigations and at least there was a witness.
M. Mercieca
Jul 13th 2009, 01:23
@ Nathan Young
Where do you place the Romanians, in ‘us’ camp or ‘them’ camp please?
claire farrugia
Jul 12th 2009, 23:16
if someone gets beaten, irrespective whether the victims or the criminals are maltese or foreign, justice has to be done. imagine if a close relative of yours gets beaten while on the street, does it interest you whether the attackers are black, white, yellow or whatever? you jsut want the attackers to receive the punishment they deserve whatever origin they are. so i dont see the whole point of discussion about whether a maltese being attacked by africans would have been equally commented on as an article or not. in a democracy whoever does a criminal act has to be punished irrespective of his origin
Daniel Mebrahatu
Jul 12th 2009, 22:09
@lgalea
First why you are adressing me as 'fighting among yourselves' and 'your racial hatred' you dont know me to classify me
secondly Fr.philip is the one who handles issues and runs an office for migrants not police.
thirdly, LEGAL or ILLEGal every person as a human have the right to safety. its better to keep quite and appear stupid than to talk and remove all the doubts
Daniel Mebrahatu
Jul 12th 2009, 22:01
@Ms g Haore
as you tell me am arrogant even you are. I know Fr.Philip Calleja cant go everywhere, but in issues of racism towards migrants he has to defend them. everyone has the right to be safe wherever he is, that's one of the human rights.
so if you are fed up of migrants, it means we have to kill one everyday? is this humane?is this Christianity? the rest is up to you....
Denis Catania
Jul 12th 2009, 21:02
@Robert Callus: My 60 year old aunt answered her door about 10 years ago or so, a couple claiming to be water meter readers or electric meter readers robbed her and they beat her so bad they almost killed her. Thank god for her little dog who wouldn't let go of one of the culprits leg. By the way this happened in Malta. So please get your head out of the sand.
@Nathan Young: You have a point.
I'm starting to believe he might of knew his attackers, if he doesn't want to go back to the open center.
Kaydee Zammit
Jul 12th 2009, 20:44
@ Jeremy Camilleri
Attacks on the Maltese by the illegal immigrants are never mentioned.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jul 12th 2009, 20:23
Lets make a small bet shall we?
I challenge anyone here to look in some back issues, and find violent attacks on Maltese, and lo and behold....I;m sure that you won't find more than 7 comments beneath the articles.....
claire farrugia
Jul 12th 2009, 20:21
Please also consider the fact that with 17 years old, this young man is a "minor" according to law, so he is more deserving protection than an adult. That is why he has all the more reason to be afraid.at a young age he must have experienced a lot already, so a bit of empathy would be good at least instead of suggesting he was beat by fellow africans and saying he is lying. as you said yourself we don't know who was responsible for this terrible act but that is why the police has to investigate
Nathan Young
Jul 12th 2009, 18:58
This story does not add up. If the attackers were Maltese,why does he not want to go back to Ħal Far where his own countrymen are? He should be safe there.
I think he is blaming the Maltese for an attack carried out by fellow Africans. This is a common thing in other European Countries where every attack on them is called racist so that they get what they want, and the native people are always blamed.
charlie xrieha
Jul 12th 2009, 18:44
Is- soltu kummiedja..."it was a racist attack"....mejtin tkunu biex tghajjru lil maltin razzisti.
Ha nsaqsikhom xi mistoqsijiet?
Fejn tafu jekk dawk li sawwtuhx kienux Gharab?
Fejn tafu jekk dawk li sawwtuhx kienux Afrikani Nsara jew minn tribu ohra?
Fejn tafu li ma kienux Mis- Somalji ukoll u kienu jobghoduh?
Fejn tafu li ma ghamlilhomx xi haga biex sawwtuh?
Jista jkun kien kaz ta' tpattija fuq kazi ta' traffikar ta' drogi?
Forsi kellu jaghti l- flus lil xi hadd bl- usura?
Jista jkun qed jigdeb biex jghatti lil xi hadd?
Forsi kien hemm xi passaport falz involut?
Could have been anything; even racism.
Ma tafux min sawwtu u ghalfejn. BIlfors tridu ssemmu r- razzizmu. Dejjem l- istess kantaliena.
Il- qrati qed ikun hemm xeba kazi ta' immigranti illegali. Qatt ma nisimghu fuq xix tressqu. Dejjem xi cucata bhal qabez il- hajt jew ID card falza. Krimini serji qatt ma jissemmew, ghal ragunijiet ovvji. Ghax inkella l- holma tal- multikulturalizmu impost fuq l- Ewropa titfarrak.
Ilsien hazin ghandkom ZGUR.
Meta suldat minn taghna jaqla xebgha jew bleach f' ghajnejh ma tifthux halqkom "it is a racist attack"
Kaydee Zammit
Jul 12th 2009, 18:40
@ Robert Callus
Then you are obviously not informed enough. In a magazine which incidentally came out last week there was a story about a guy who was killed just for his x-box! There are holes in the story, such as why doesn't he want to go back to Hal Far if it is true that the perpetrators were Maltese? Why was he attacked and not the person who was with him? How does he recognize Maltese swear words? And how come this picture is used? What a biased story!
m azzopardi
Jul 12th 2009, 18:39
Whilst I wish Mr Mohamed a quick recovery, it is still unclear who beat him up. Let's not forget that in the past there were cases where immigrants attacked other immigrants from a different ethnic group. So please until we're sure who did it let's not point any fingers. Thank you.
Clint Muscat
Jul 12th 2009, 18:36
This is so one sided and tries to convince the reader believing statements that till now are not facts.
The journalist is sending the wrong message to the public. You better report the stresses that immigrants have created in our island. Mentally it is really not easy to accept someone that came ILLEGALLY in your space and wants the same rights you have. It is not a case of colour but a cultural problem.
As Richard Dawkins explains in the "selfish gene" there is something imprinted in the genes of all organisms that make tham protective for their race in a selfish way to other races and organisms. It would be very interesting if you try to explain why all this is happening if at the first place this is true.
Imagine: someone enters your home and by right wants to sleep at your house together with his family because he has problems. And then after you accept to help him he wants to use all your facilities as if their part of your family would you rebel against him?
claire farrugia
Jul 12th 2009, 18:28
how come the police have not yet been by the victim and questioned him? how do they intend to catch the people responsible? I agree with Robert Cilia that a public statement needs to be done by the Minister concerned and the police with details of what was done to bring the people concerned to court. we as Maltese cannot stay and look and not do anything if fellow human beings are being maltreated, as Christians it is our duty to do so.
Robert Callus
Jul 12th 2009, 18:27
@Dennis Catania
Robbery? With all honesty I do not recall any robbery involving three men beating a person nearly to death and leave him in the middle of the street just to steal his wallet. In most cases even a bank robbery or a lotto office do not involve such brutality, let alone a pick-pocket.
ms g hoare
Jul 12th 2009, 18:24
@ Daniel Mebrahatu , where is Fr. Philip Calleja? He is supposed to protect and act as advocate for migrants. THIS sounds full of arrogance, what do you expect from Fr Calleja that as soon as you call he going to come running. He is going to be here there and everywhere there is to many immigrants to be everywhere MAYBE FR P CALLEJA should come at Hal Far and see what a lot of immigrants do when they see Maltese people they get all arrogant as if they own the island I see it everyday and i feel like i want to hide, the way they look at woman in A perverted way.
@ Claire Farrugia ,You are right what you said but , alot of europeans wouldnt believe everything they read or see on tv and they would understand that if we are fed up especially with this immigration burden that is hitting this tiny Island which we cannot afford . Well european papers should say how many Maltese Missionares , Priest, and money have been putting towards Africa from the little we have and how many PRIESTS have been killed while on a mission
C.Caruana (323)
Jul 12th 2009, 18:02
This is clearly a racist attack! It is condemnable always irrespective of who or on who such vile attack is carried out! Hope that all those responsible are brought to justice!
Raymond Sammut
Jul 12th 2009, 17:51
@ journalist
All this time we were left with the impression that a young man may not be able to walk again, but now we are told that the first Times story was inaccurate. And why this picture? What are you trying to convey or imply with this abstract image? Can you please make your position clear. You are meant to be an objective reporter, giving both sides of a story. You obviously have nothing to report on findings by the police at this stage, so why are you splashing this one-sided story in the press when the information you have is clearly insufficient? In my view, the public need to be informed, not inflamed.
lgalea
Jul 12th 2009, 17:37
Daniel Mebrahatu
While condemning the attack, we still do not know who the attackers were and could be anyone and therefore no one can say that it was a racist attack. How about the different African races fighting among yourselves and bringing your racial hatred and warfare with you even when you are here in Malta Daniel, something which you cannot deny.
Remember that ILLEGAL immigrants are here ILLEGALLY and have absolutely NO right to be here. This is OUR country. As I said this is in no way to excuse the attack which must be condemned.
And if you think that Fr. Philip Calleja is here to defend ILLEGALITIES you are wrong Daniel. We are in Malta and it is not private persons who protect others like what happens in Africa, but the POLICE who protect LEGALITIES not ILLEGALITIES.
Margaret Richards
Jul 12th 2009, 17:37
Are we Christian Malta - ludicrous! Unfortunately Malta is far becoming the most racist island in the Mediterranean. Why would people attack immigrants just because of their skin colour or perhaps out of social prejudice??? But at the same time I don't think it's fair blaming Fr. Philip for what happened. Fr. Philip from my personal knowledge lives for immigrants, day in day out. He definitely can't be at different places at the same time. And even if he were in Hal Far, Daniel, what makes you think he would have been able to stop these bullies??? I just want to say that if something is not done by the authorities, these incidents are going to become the order of the day. But while these racist attacks are ongoing maltese people enjoy their festas, blaspheme in the name of their patron saint, and prove what a hypocritical lot they are.
Robert Cilia
Jul 12th 2009, 17:30
The attack on Abditafah Mohamed is a dangerous escalation of violence aimed at generating fear in the residents at Hal Far centre. Not only was this action premeditated but there was an intent to murder otherwise the attackers would not have moved the injured person to the middle of the road. The fact that the attackers were "young and very strong" is also worrying possibly indicating the begining of organised vigilante style attacks. if these attacks become more frequent I am also worried about the reaction which the residents at The Hal Far centre might make. People who feel that their lives are in danger will organise themselves for protection reasons. This could indeed be a dangerous development. The Police must also take this matter very seriously so that everyone is convinced that they are doing their very best
to bring the perpetrators to justice. I think that a public statement regarding all this from The Minister concerned would not be amiss. One should also publicly thank the maltese cyclist who stayed with the victim until help was available. Prosit you did a noble act.
Moses Mula
Jul 12th 2009, 17:13
What would have happened if this incident was the other way round, i.e. an immigrants who attacked a Maltese, is a blogger asking? Well, I do not have a crystal ball, but you would see the immigrant haters who usually gather on this blog writing words of hatred and telling us how right they the AN and Norman Lowell were. But in this case we only have a few comments, at least up till now, from us who are called do-gooders each time we try to point out that being of a different skin colour, religion, nationality or culture does not make you inferior to Maltese citizens.
I dread that there people, and not a few who will justify this incident or call it a lie, and there comments might soon appear, you know, the usual suspects whoes names are becoming more ` famous ` than those of our politicians. These same people have told me that facts are facts when pointing out the ` situation ` Europe is in because of multiculturism. Well, facts are truly facts, although many times distorted, so I want to see you distort the fact that racism in Malta is alive and well.
Denis Catania
Jul 12th 2009, 17:06
This was a brutal robbery. It does not have the signs of a racial attack. He claims he heard them speak Maltese and screaming angry words. He did not say those words were racial words. I hope the attackers get caught and don't receive a suspended sentence.
Jan Willem van Avendonk
Jul 12th 2009, 16:59
Well if he is scared to stay here why doesnt he go back if he was better in the country from where he originated ?
D Vella
Jul 12th 2009, 16:58
Mr Mebrahatu
Something like this has happened already. A Black migrant was beaten to death in Paceville just a few weeks ago for no good reason. I feel sick that such people could do something like this to another human being.We have been let down by our Governments, our Educational system and by our Religion. For all our long civilisation, the five thousand years of history that we are so proud ..it has taught us nothing.
Kevin Zammit
Jul 12th 2009, 16:51
"They were using angry Maltese words" yet he needed an interpreter ... ther is a readon why this guy does not want to go back to Hal far cause if it was Maltese who beat him up what difference does it make where he goes?
@c.caruana
Martin Luther's dream was in the united states of america not in europe, where Billie Haliday was accepted as a star.
Claire Farrugia
Jul 12th 2009, 15:27
hello
I am very sorry to hear what happened to this man. The situation in detention centres and such stories with a possible racial background are giving us a very bad image abroad, recently saw a documentary in French television (in French and German) about Malta and the difficult conditions in detention centres and the things they said were far from nice. Being a Maltese and proud to be one, I feel we should take care about the influence such press is having on us Maltese. We are actually renowned for hospitality and friendliness, but this image will change radically if such incidents continue.
Daniel Mebrahatu
Jul 12th 2009, 15:23
I am very shocked by this story. this is not only a rascist attack, but a gangster attack. whatever the reason, the behaviour of these sick men cannot be justified. are we going to continue like this until something fatal happen??
where is Fr. Philip Calleja? He is supposed to protect and act as advocate for migrants..
Malta is becoming like USA in the 60's..
j azzopardi
Jul 12th 2009, 13:55
would somebody tell us the truth is this illegal person here lieing or the police ?
D Attard
Jul 12th 2009, 13:47
That incident was nothing but a racist attack.
M. Mercieca
Jul 12th 2009, 13:08
One should not jump to the conclusion that the culprits yet thieves are Maltese nationals. Civilized peoples don’t act in such inhuman may. However if the culprits are Maltese national this would be a natural result of fuel-adding comments against immigrants.
Can anybody imagine what would have been the public reaction had this ugly uncivilized accident the other way round?
Whatever the nationality (or color for this matter) the culprits should face trial.
Robert Callus
Jul 12th 2009, 12:49
Unbelievable how low some people can get. Don't these thugs think their crime is in the 'national interest'. Makes me wonder for whom some places are a no-go area.
c.caruana
Jul 12th 2009, 11:23
SHAME, that's all i have to say!!! The dream once had Martin Luther King is still a dream!!
Carmelo Palmier Cecy
Jul 12th 2009, 11:11
I feel sorry for the victim Mr Mohamed, and I hope that he would soon progress to a satisfactory recovery. I also appeal to the authorities to make sure that he be placed in a safer environment. As long as he is in Malta, whether by intention or by accident, he is entitled to his own personal safety; Malta and its people in authority should take note.