Norman Lowell hits out as Constitutional Court puts off decision
Norman Lowell protested outside the law courts today that the Constitutional Court had, for the fourth time, failed to hand down its decision in a case he had instituted after the Appeals Court threw out his appeal from a conviction of inciting racial hatred.
"Having a sentence put off four times is unheard of," Mr Lowell told a press conference outside the law courts.
"The way I am being treated shows that Malta is a third world country, this is a bankrupt island which lacks a spine," Mr Lowell said, adding that the only hope for the country was for people with moral fibre, like himself, to go to Brussels to help change the course of Europe and of Malta.
"From a sacred island, Malta has become a banana republic," he added.
His legal counsel, Emmy Bezzina, said justice had to be seen to be done for the courts to enjoy the people's respect.
He recalled that the case went back to May 2006 when Mr Lowell was arrested and subsequently arraigned with urgency on a Saturday afternoon. He was convicted two years later and handed a suspended jail term.
An appeal was filed, but the criminal appeals court threw it out in a seven-page decision based on technicalities.
A case was instituted before the constitutional court, which however declared that it could not serve as an appeals court over the appeals court. That decision was appealed from. Judgement had been pending for over a year but had been put off four times, without reason being given.
Dr Bezzina said the decision would also have to be put off again when the case comes up on October 29 because Mr Lowell would ask the new Chief Justice, Silvio Camilleri, not to take cognisance since, as Attorney General, he was a party in the case.
The implication of these postponements, he said, was that Mr Lowell could not yet take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, because he has first to exhaust all local legal avenues.
The fact that the Constitutional Court was failing to hand down its decision meant that Mr Lowell was being denied his rights, he said.
Mr Lowell and Dr Bezzina regretted the fact that Dr Camilleri, as Attorney General, had failed to investigate their claims about exaggerated and illegal spending during the electoral campaign by some of the candidates for the election of members of the European Parliament, and said they would file a new request when the new Attorney General takes over.
Dr Bezzina noted that candidates in local council elections had been arraigned for failing to submit their spending declaration, when nothing was done about the case of the MEPs, even by the police commissioner. This, they said, constituted two weights and two measures.
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Joe Fenech
Sep 9th 2010, 10:15
Malta's only hero is under attack again!!!! Defending your own heritage and people is nowadays a crime!
Revive La Vallette from the dead!
Joe Fenech
Sep 9th 2010, 09:53
K Consiglio:
"Gadaffi said that if we don't pay him, Europe would become black."
WE NOW THAT IT'S BECOMING BLACK ALREADY! WE DON'T NEED GADDAFI TO TELL US! Unfortunately in the masonic world we live in, the only things that counts is business and money!
Stephen Farrugia
Sep 8th 2010, 20:47
This video reveals a strong leader. Do you agree ?
anthony borg
Sep 8th 2010, 16:06
So we here in Malta, censor Mr.Lowell and slap him with a suspended sentence for inciting racial hatred, when he is defending this little Island from being swamped by African, illegal immigrants. Then we invite a dictator, who openly tries to blackmail the whole of Europe, to a state visit...! Shame indeed on those in power.
P.S. @Charmaine Marmara' "tghid b liema lingwa ha jkellimom lil ta emporium ewropa ? taljan ,malti jew ingliz ?? "
Ms. Marmara', language is only a tool to express ourselves...we Maltese are experts in diluting our every day speech.
Charmaine Marmara'
Sep 8th 2010, 10:54
tghid b liema lingwa ha jkellimom lil ta emporium ewropa ? taljan ,malti jew ingliz ??
jien ma jdejjaqnix sa barra ghax xi kultant ijkollu ragun dal bniedem....forsi hafna ma jaqblux kif jitkellem imma jiena nahseb nahseb l unika wiehed li ghandu l guzz jghid li jrid !!!!
Tommy Lee
Sep 8th 2010, 10:29
Find a full list of Hypocritical British MP's who have signed up to a petition demanding the right of the Tibetan people to preserve their identity in the face of massive “Han Chinese immigration” — but refuse to even recognise that the identical displacement process is happening in Britain.
http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/full-list-sympathetic-mps
Any Maltese MP's in favour of Tibetan survival ?
What has this got to do with Mr Lowell?
Without stating the obvious, a great deal.
gaffarena joseph
Sep 8th 2010, 09:54
Re Pierre Portelli,
From the way I, saw you talking about this man on xarabank, and what you said now, it seems that you have something personal against him.
For me when you and the other chosen lot talked about norman on xarabank,was an act of cowardice,because there was no balance on that program.I, am more than sure that what norman predicted years ago ,we are living it to day.
Denis Catania
Sep 7th 2010, 19:49
Altough I don't agree with Norman Lowell 100%. Mr lowell is 100% right that the Maltese in Malta are losing their freedom of speech. Today I was contacted by an Austrian journalist and I told her the reason I'm involved in activism against illegal immigration in Malta is due to the fact that the Maltese in Malta have no freedom of speech on this issue. Only when it hits home people worry about freedom of speech such as the University paper, the play stiches and so on. When it comes to freedom of speech listen to this man, don't wait till it's to late.
Robert Calafato
Sep 7th 2010, 17:50
Well they mocked and ridiculed Enoch Powell and Jean Marie Le Pen, so I suppose Mr. Lowell should not expect any better. However, we all know what has happened and is still happening in England and France so I am not to sure of who is going to have the last laugh!
And by the way, the majority of Maltese are definitely not of north African decent ,and that Arabs do not come from north Africa!
Pierre Portelli
Sep 7th 2010, 16:28
This man, who is so obviously of typical Mediterranean stock from his features. Yes, that means Sicilian & North African Arab ancestry like most of us Maltese. Expects us to take his messages of racial purity seriously? When he spouts the same messages in this absurd Italo-Anglo-Maltese pidgin dialect? At most he can be mildly amusing if taken with more than the preverbial pinch of salt! Please Mr. Lowell as you would say in your unique dialect. "Bizejjed issa! Please stop this pagliaciatta misera immediatamente!"
Charles Sammut
Sep 7th 2010, 20:32
Mr Portelli, you pedigree stands you in good stead.
Stephen Farrugia
Sep 7th 2010, 21:49
Imperium is a strong, serious political force. Live with it !
Blame the Liberals and the fairy tale pushers, for this situation.
F B Aqulina
Sep 7th 2010, 23:45
You too dear Mr Portelli.
Stephen Farrugia
Sep 8th 2010, 07:06
Reading your comment, reveals the fact, that you and your circle of people have understood nothing.
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Sep 7th 2010, 11:22
Listening to Norman’s talk on youtube, I cannot but notice the constant laughter and monkey clapping of most people who seem to be enjoying the evening. What these people do not get is that their actions spell out their character-- as who would waste their time to go and listen to a “fool”.
I do not agree with everything Norman says, but he surely says very serious things as well. As Norman rightly says, "Having a sentence put off four times is unheard of.” He is a Maltese citizen and what is done to him can be done to us—an injustice is always wrong!
The fact that the Constitutional Court is failing to hand down its decision means that Mr Lowell is being denied his rights, which are our rights. The sinister agenda behind this, I presume, is that these postponements, mean that Mr Lowell could not yet take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, because he has first to exhaust all local legal avenues.
Liking or disliking Lowell is one thing, but on this issue he is right and all of us must defend his right because his rights are our rights.
Malcolm Mifsud
Sep 7th 2010, 10:18
Ever heard of the saying what goes round comes around, Mr Lowell? You're being treated just like you propose to treat others.
Christian Sciberras
Sep 7th 2010, 08:59
Norma, I don't usually advise with sayings, however the Maltese one, "Li taghmel jaghmlulek" fits the situation just right."
Sean Grima
Sep 7th 2010, 08:38
the man is an embarrasment to our country.
F B Aqulina
Sep 7th 2010, 23:48
The same holds true for your goodself Mr Grima.
Carmel Garcia
Sep 7th 2010, 08:32
Norman Lowell, jekk veru thobb lil-Malta, ibda tkellem dejjem bil-Malti li suppost ahna tant kburin bih. Halliha l-libgwa ngliza u u t-taljan. Ahna f'Malta qedghin nghixu u maltin ahna.
Neil Sant
Sep 7th 2010, 08:11
I hate to say it but I must admit that Norman Lowell is right about this one. What a disgrace!
R. Caruana
Sep 7th 2010, 07:55
God save this country from Normal Lowell and his likes.
K Camilleri
Sep 7th 2010, 00:28
Bring the real criminals to Justice, not the people that want to voice their opinion.
Aristotle endorsed the rule of law, writing that "law should govern", and those in power should be "servants of the laws."
Who are the true criminals now?? think about it
K.Borg
Sep 6th 2010, 23:30
Oh my goodness! This man os outrageous! Who is he trying to free exactly? He's trying to enslave us! He's trying to take away our rights! Under his "rule" it will be no democracy but autocracy and a dictatorship!
George Camilleri
Sep 6th 2010, 22:57
I'm not a Lowell sympathizer but I'm not happy with the way he's being treated by the courts in this case. The democratic process must prevail whoever is involved and this means that the courts must listen to his complaint and respond as objectively and fairly as possible. This is the best way to fight fascism. Postponing a case four times without a reason is not compatible with a democratic society.
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Sep 6th 2010, 22:47
To some of the negative bloggers below: before you start laughing and criticizing someone, you better take a good look at your situation because your laughing indicates your state.
I do not agree with everything Norman says, but I surely understand what his point is. I have seen many video clips on youtube of his talks and many (not all) go for a laugh. As we say in Maltese, they are like l-anglu tal-monument.
For the Constitution Courts to fail for the fourth time to hand down its decision means something fishy going on. They are doing this on purpose--so it seems--so that he won't be able to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, because he has first to exhaust all local legal avenues.
It is good for all of us to come to our senses and understand that each of us could be robbed of his/her human rights and subdued without any explanation. Mr. Lowell is a Maltese citizen and his rights are being suffocated. Therefore, it doesn't show maturity on us to laugh and be cynical--his rights are our rights and we must defend him.
F Borg
Sep 6th 2010, 22:08
This man has got the guts to speak in the public like this, and most of what he says makes sense, is it true or not that we are loosing our identity and freedom? that there is corruption everywhere you look? Well done Mr. Lowell, you are right, we cannot go any lower than this. One should see what is happening in England, muslims taking over soon, they march in protest in the streets, demanding death to the infedels! Does anybody know what the term infedel means to these people? - It means us, non beleivers of Islam! So they demand our blood, our death! And the authorities simply turns a blind eye on this. Ever seen a march in protest from catholic or protestants demanding the death of Muslims? Don't think so, they would surely be arrested immedietely! And yet, it is a known fact that in a couple of years, there would be enough muslims in the UK to elect a muslim government. And here? Aren't there already enough of these immigrants already taking the jobs of the maltese? And yet we pay taxes so that they can be fed and groomed. Oh yes, Lowell is right!
Kurt G Pace
Sep 6th 2010, 21:53
Strange as it may seem.... MOST of what Mr Norman Lowell said over the years has happened, or is happening. See his past statement and see if the case. By the way, a few days ago Gaddaffi also said the same thing as what Mr Lowell has been saying for ages. He did not say this in front of a few people... No, he said this in front of High ranking EU polititians. There was no outcry. There was no "oh he is mad". There was not a whisper. Why? Maybe he's right. Think about it. I mean REALLY think about it....
Stefan Portelli
Sep 6th 2010, 21:36
This country although it's small in size, People in this country could change the whole world. Are we ready to fix our problems in society and politics, ecc and show what we've other coutries what we've done? or we're running out of guts? I'm talking politically, religiously and socially.
dvella
Sep 6th 2010, 17:45
"Having a sentence put off four times is unheard of," - don't blame them if it's norman lowell hitting the airwaves AGAIN!!!! Give us a break mr lowell plse, there are many other things one can do!!
Stefan Portelli
Sep 6th 2010, 21:32
The one & only thing is to change all PN & MLP Ministers. That's the only way. But also give space for these small parties. I admit that isn't be done everything. Pepper is thrown in our eyes and smelled by our noses. Then we ask the government to do something. What he does is putting salt in our eyes.After back with the pepper story. That's what's is being done exactly.
J Micallef
Sep 6th 2010, 17:22
Dear Mr. Lowell,
After all these years of treating the institutions like s**t.... do you expect to be treated better?
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 22:05
Mr. Lowell's case apart, can you mention at least one institution which does not stink of corruption? I'm all ears!
D Vella
Sep 6th 2010, 22:35
Actually Mr Lowell has exactly the same rights as you and I, and he is entitled to justice,the soone the better.This comment comes from one who in no way agrees with Mr Lowell's political views.Not now,not ever. Next time it could be you who is denied his rights Mr Micalleff.
jane deguara nee hughes
Sep 7th 2010, 10:26
He wants locking up in a room and throw away the key... hes a waste of space
c. camilleri
Sep 6th 2010, 16:20
The whole point is that Norman Lowell is a soft target. I wonder what would be the case if he was an MP or ex MP. An ex MP used similar language several times on a local TV station and no one charge him with racial hatred. So again it depends who you are.
lgalea
Sep 6th 2010, 15:16
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10726616
East Sussex sham marriage trial: The brides
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10331634
Bride given dress in St Leonards 'marriage scam'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10288982
St Leonards vicar 'ran massive marriage scam'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-11200507
Sussex vicar Alex Brown jailed for sham marriages
Ian Micallef
Sep 6th 2010, 14:58
Freedom of speach in Malta ... good one not a chance ....
S Galea
Sep 6th 2010, 15:20
no where in the world are you allowed to spread racism and hatred!!!!!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 6th 2010, 23:32
Usa for one!
and of course, in Malta, we can denigrate any religion bar the Roman Catholic Religion..
JOe VELLa
Sep 7th 2010, 11:56
@S Galea
Can you tell that to the Iran's prim minister when he speaks of the Jews!!
Karl Consiglio
Sep 6th 2010, 14:56
Martin Saliba,
I agree with you but I was asking for NL's opinion, not yours. I'm interested to hear his say on the matter.
R.Gauci
Sep 6th 2010, 20:33
You are asking this question to the wrong person as Normal Lowell's stand is clear that is zero tolerance!! Gaddafi is playing the bluff game and trying to achieve what he can from it as he knows that countries such as France and Italy already started to have a tough stand against illegal immigrants and started to send them back see story on this link http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100906/local/eu-ministers-canada-vow-migration-cooperation
We are living in desperate times so we need desperate measures to stay afloat ,we can't keep trying to lift more then we can handle as the result will be catastrophic and charity begins at home after all!!
Mark Cachia
Sep 6th 2010, 14:35
Apart from the repetitive innuendo that 'he' has to be in Brussels to save Malta, (A very remote possibility!!) the rest is not very far from what the "commoners" in the streets do feel about the current state of our nation, myself included, and I AM a current government sympathizer. Everywhere you look there is this stench of decay, a feeling that the situation will not come for the better but for the worst. Maybe this party has been at the helm for too long and this a natural course of what is happening! On the other hand what is bugging is that our only viable change does not look so promising, with people like Toni Abela & Angelo Farrugia occupying the two most important posts after the Prim minister .... Bahhh... you tell me !!!
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 22:00
I agree 100% with you, Mr. Cachia.
Charles Sammut
Sep 6th 2010, 14:28
All that Lowell is asking for is for a decision to be made. Either way is good. If his appeal is upheld, well and good. If it is rejected then let Strasbourg decide. Why the procrastination? Why the passing of the buck? Justice delayed is justice denied.
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 21:58
I agree 100% with you, Mr. Sammut.
colin stanley
Sep 6th 2010, 14:27
What Norman Lowell said years ago, we meet them near our border and send them back, is actually happening to day, thanks to the Italian Prime Minister, so what's the difference between the two.
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 21:58
Mr. Berlusconi is a Prime Minister and he's Italian.
Mr. Lowell is a man in the street but he's Maltese.
Same thing happened when Gaddafi called Africans 'black', 'starving' and even 'ignorant'. Have you heard anyone call him racist or accusing him of inciting racial hatred?
Ever heard the maxim: Two ways two measures?
Sean Grima
Sep 6th 2010, 13:13
it would be a banana republic if lowell was not convicted!
John Portelli
Sep 8th 2010, 13:59
Who made you the judge? and who are you to judge? and why do you judge? IT'S YOU WHO HATES HIS OWN
I Brown
Sep 6th 2010, 12:58
Go to Brussels sort it out for us, one way ticket please.
Tommy Lee
Sep 6th 2010, 13:22
The problem is the whole Political structure in Malta and elsewhere in Europe. The country is in denial.Cheats are thriving. Honesty is absent.
"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
Joe Fenech
Sep 6th 2010, 20:05
Malta needs an Enoch Powell. Politicians here in the UK dismissed his thoughts. Now look at the UK - w h a t a m e s s !!!!!!!
Tommy Lee
Sep 6th 2010, 12:57
Sadly Mr Lowell is right. Will the Sheep open their eyes? again Sadly..................No.
Karl Consiglio
Sep 6th 2010, 12:45
How does Lowell feel towards the billions Gadaffi is asking to bring the migrants situation to an end, is he in favour or against Europe paying up. What would Lowell do? Gadaffi said that if we don't pay him, Europe would become black.
martin saliba
Sep 6th 2010, 13:13
You dont have to ask NL . Gaddafi is right , he is defending his country as i would expect our goverment to defend ours.
Shirley Ann Zumyat
Sep 6th 2010, 13:34
so it`s ok for all the other nationalities coming into malta but not for the blacks.. please keep your racism to yourself.. if you go to the foreign office there you`ll find many more nationalities asking for a residence permit in malta
Paul Saliba
Sep 6th 2010, 14:14
You are right martin saliba. If only our politicians were worth one millionth to our country of what Gaddafi is worth for his country.
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 21:47
I'm impressed at some commentators' naivete'!
Can't you see that Gaddafi can open or close the illegal immigration tap at will?
He can stop illegal immigration whenever he wants to and he even has the cheek to blackmail us Europeans.
Common sense politicians will not fork out a single Euro cent to him, and if Gaddafi keeps on bugging us, we might have another...Ronald Reagan!
Unfortunately, common sense is not so common nowadays, especially with this political correctness crap.
John Portelli
Sep 6th 2010, 12:28
Where is our feedom of thought and freedom of speech??
Sean Grima
Sep 6th 2010, 13:06
those freedoms have their limits: they cannot be used to promote racial hatred.
D.Galea
Sep 6th 2010, 13:18
That's the point, such decision is being delayed yet again in this case, do not imply there is one already.
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 6th 2010, 13:24
Well said Sean Grima.
Patrick Sacco
Sep 6th 2010, 21:40
It's in the dustbin of history, Mr. Portelli thanks to LPN and some NGOs.
Kenneth Cassar
Sep 7th 2010, 08:37
@ D. Galea:
"That's the point, such decision is being delayed yet again in this case, do not imply there is one already".
Wrong. There was already a decision. That's what's being contested. Of course, court delays serve no one any good, and the sooner this affair is concluded, the better.