BBC radio yesterday interviewed student editor Mark Camilleri, the 21-year-old history student facing a possible prison term for publishing a graphic short story in his newspaper.

The programme on BBC Radio 5 was discussing censorship around the world, especially the recent spat between Google and China.

Journalist Rhod Sharp said that if a story like Mr Camilleri's had been published in other European countries it would have gone unnoticed but Malta was "different".

Mr Camilleri spoke about the uproar against the police decision to prosecute him and about how censorship had frequently reared its head on the island in recent years.

He said even the opposition had jumped on the anti-censorship bandwagon but the government did not seem to be "budging".

"It's about a macho person who doesn't show love or affection to women and uses them as sexual objects. It's written in a very explicit manner... and it seems it was obscene for the establishment in Malta," Mr Camilleri said, describing the story written by novelist Alex Vella Gera.

The student newspaper was banned from campus when it was brought to the attention of the University authorities.

Mr Camilleri said he did not publish it just to shock but because he honestly believed it had artistic value and literary merit. He never expected this "ruckus" since his newspaper had published controversial art before but was never prosecuted for it.

"We miscalculated, it seems."

He said the story painted a reality of Maltese life, which did not go down well, possibly because it was so true.

"It is a crude and ugly reality, which people might find in bad taste but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be shown to the public," he said, to the surprised journalist who asked what this incident said about the island.

Meanwhile, left-leaning student organisation Pulse joined the chorus of disapproval, saying an "urgent reform in the local law about censorship" would be in place.

The interview can be heard on www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00psyrz/Up_All_Night_14_01_2010/.