Migrants mark ‘racist’ death

The Migrants’ Network for Equality held a candle-light vigil against racism to commemorate the death of Sudanese Suleiman Ismail Abubaker two years ago.

Mr Abubaker’s friends, and former Safi barracks co-residents, expressed disappointment that two years since their “brother’s death” nothing had changed.

Mr Abubaker, 28, succumbed to the injuries he sustained when he had been punched on the head after being refused entry to a nightclub in Paceville.

Many clubs in Paceville still refused entry to African migrants, Osman Dicko, a member of the network, said, adding the problem of racism was not confined to Paceville.

“We’ve done everything we could, we spoke to the authorities and the police, but nothing has changed. We sent a letter to Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. The police told us this was not their problem.

“Although only a minority of the Maltese society is hostile towards us, we’re still being discriminated against on a daily basis.

“(Mr Abubaker) was killed because he is from Africa. He was our brother, our friend. We will not forget him,” Mr Dicko said.

He described Mr Abubaker as a peaceful sociable man who joked around to make people laugh.