Urine-filled bags, pepper spray and metal rods were among the weapons used in unprovoked attacks on immigrants, as racist sentiments escalate from insults to violent attacks, NGOs have warned.
Nine organisations yesterday called on the authorities to open their eyes to the reality of racism and take action because, as their slogan went, "silence is complicity".
Abdul Kadir Ahmed, a Somali national who works closely with immigrants in detention and open centres, said: "Between 2005 and 2007 there were verbal threats with people telling dark-skinned people to leave the island... Notes were signed by the KKK (Ku Klux Klan) which we all know is a racist, aggressive group. The year 2008 was quiet but now things are getting worse."
Last month, Sudanese immigrant, Suleiman Ismail, died, 11 days after suffering a fractured skull and lung contusion during a fight in Paceville.
Earlier this month two young Somali men were attacked by three Maltese men while they were cycling near the Ħal Far open centre. One of the men got away but 18-year-old Abdifatah Mohamed suffered serious head injuries.
"Nowadays, the Ħal Far area is seen as dangerous by immigrants. About two months ago bags filled with urine were thrown at immigrants there. In Marsa, where immigrants stand waiting to be picked up for work, a dark car pulled over and when an immigrant went over - thinking it was work - pepper spray was sprayed in his face," Mr Ahmed said adding that, clearly, these attacks were racially-motivated.
Mr Mohamed, who was attacked this month, has voiced his fears over returning to Ħal Far following the brutal attack on July 6.
Moviment Graffitti's Andre Callus said that Mr Mohamed was hit over the head and beaten till he was unconscious. His attackers then dragged him to the middle of the road. A motorcyclist spotted him and stopped to offer assistance.
The nine NGOs agreed that, given the circumstances of the event, this was a racial attack.
"Although we believe that most of the Maltese people are not racist, we cannot continue to negate the fact that in Malta racism is on the increase," they said.
They called in the authorities to break the silence on racism, recognise that it was an increasing problem and address it.
They also called on government agencies, such as the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, to take a proactive role in the fight against racism through educational campaigns and for individual cases of discrimination to be investigated on the basis of race.
"We believe that the roots of racism lie in the irrational fear that has been nurtured in Malta, through the very often inflated challenge that the issue of immigration poses to our country," they said.
The NGOs present were Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Peace Lab, Third World Group, Kopin, Migrants' Solidarity Movement, Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust, Alternattiva Demokratika Zagħzagħ and Żminijietna.