I refer to the report Go Back And Die In Your Own Country, Hospital Is Only For Libyans (December 23).

The story quotes Tigiste, a woman migrant, recounting her experience in Libya. She says: "The guards took my Bible and stomped on it. They asked me if I was Christian or Muslim. I pointed to my cross. They said it was a big sin and beat me with their hands and sticks. From then on, I hid my cross".

I have only one comment to make to Bible-stomping and beating: Shame!

However, being a frequent traveller to Libya, I think it would only be fair to say that my experience in Libya is totally the opposite of what is mentioned in this article.

In the centre of Tripoli, there is a Roman Catholic Church run by a Maltese parish priest. The Bishop of Benghazi is also Maltese.

The World Islamic Call Society, the Libyan organisation whose founder is Colonel Gaddafi himself, and which runs the Islamic Centre in Paola, has been a pioneer in organising inter-religious dialogue activities since the early 1970s, and preaches tolerance and respect towards other religions. Religious leaders of different faiths, especially Christians of various denominations, have attended these activities, either in Tripoli, or in countries where the World Islamic Call Society has its branches, including Malta.

During my visits to Libya, I very often leave the hotel by myself and walk around the streets, shops and markets.

I have never felt threatened "of being robbed or beaten by the locals", as the article says. On the contrary, I have always found the locals, including the police, very friendly and helpful, to the extent that I nowadays consider Tripoli as my second home.

I recount one experience during my last visit in November. I entered this watch shop but the owner did not have what I was looking for. So he left his shop unattended and walked with me for about five minutes to another shop, which, in fact, had what I wanted.

Nobody in Libya ever told me "You are nothing, I am Libyan!" Actually, when Libyans realise you are a foreigner, they treat you as a guest and a guest in Arab tradition is treated better than a local! And let me also add that Libya is the only North African country where I never saw anyone begging, or any shop owner pestering a foreigner to buy some unwanted item from his shop, so I truly cannot understand how "even little babies would stretch out their hands, palms upturned, because this is what they learned from their parents"!! Oh, and hashish and other drugs and alcohol are highly illegal in Libya.

Now, one can easily say, "Ah! But you are not African, you are not black! You never stayed at a detention centre!" That is right, but even so, Africans being treated in the manner described in this article is in total contrast to Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Gaddafi's dreams and hopes for Africa, and to the Libyan government's policies on Africa, not to mention that racist behaviour is in total contradiction to the religion of Islam.

We in Malta are not very much aware of the great efforts being done by Colonel Gaddafi in respect of the African Union. And emigration out of Africa is a big issue for Colonel Gaddafi - he is totally against it! He believes that Africans should stay in Africa, thus avoiding a brain drain. I myself have heard him deliver speeches to this effect. The unity of the African continent is Gaddafi's goal, one Africa, one people, one economy, one army. Colonel Gaddafi at present holds the African Union presidency.

Let me conclude by saying that by no means do I want to imply that Tigiste is a liar. Neither am I saying that there are no exceptions and that irregularities do not happen... they do, everywhere, including our beloved Malta. But I would just like to make it clear that Libya as pictured in this article is not the Libya that I and many other frequent travellers to that country have known, experienced and grown to love.