PL holds Muslim Iftar
The Labour Party this evening held a Muslim Iftar - the evening meal which breaks fasting by Muslims during Ramadan.
The event - the first of its kind organised by a Maltese political party, was attended by Imam Mohammad El Saadi and Mgr Joe Vella Gauci, the Maltese representative to the Commission of the Conference of European Bishops.
Party leader Joseph Muscat said the PL was a secular party in a predominantly Christian society, with the majority of its members being Catholic, but it embraced the diversity of Maltese and foreigners having different beliefs.
The PL was open to all people who believed in social justice, as evidenced by its new statute.
Dr Muscat said he expected that the PL would be criticised for its initiative to hold this ceremony, but this strengthened the party as an organisation which wanted to bring down barriers and believed in a society which respected everyone.
Dr Muscat also spoke on the conflict in Libya and said the friendship between the two countries had to be based on friendship between the two peoples and on trade.
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Joe Fenech
Sep 1st 2011, 16:21
The Labour people are simply trying to get the votes of illegal immigrants who have been given VISAs and nationality due to the lax Maltese laws. While these can vote, Maltese immigrants still living abroad can't, unlike nationals of other countries.
This is populism galore. Let's face it, Mintoff did the same when he wore his big 'horse' buckle. That was part of a very well thought-out strategy to attract the working class. However Joseph is no Mintoff. Mintoff was a brilliant brain and philosopher. In the 50s, referring to the indulgences and the abuse of power by the Church, he used to say "The Middle Ages are over...." He was the only person in Malta to push for Humanism. Mintoff was the one for whom 'Malta Came Above Everything' ! And here we have Joseph wanting to Islamise the nation. He is simply adopting the horrendous Tony Blair policies: the policies that ruined the UK.
We do not need any of these gimicks. Let's not forgot that the Maltese have lived peacefully with the communities of Chinese and Libyans that have been living in Malta legally for decades. The Maltese do not need to proove that they are hospitable!
I hope PN will NEVER fall into the same trap. PL deserves another 5 years of opposition and, truly, has no reason to exist.
Jonathan Camilleri
Apr 29th, 11:08
lol, isn't that what all politicians do?
Joe Fenech
Sep 1st 2011, 12:50
The very last nail in PL's coffin ! DO NOT TRUST THEM !
Jennifer Cosaitis
Aug 31st 2011, 16:09
Daqt tbiegh ruhek ghal erba' voti Joseph
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 31st 2011, 22:21
Jennifer Cosaitis inthon biegħhejtuha lill-Gaddafi meta tajtuh unur meta kontu tafu x'kien qed jagħmel u Gonezi stiednu wkoll għal żjara uffiċjali ftit jiem qabel qam l-inkwiet.
Bħal ma biegħhejtu ruħkom, lilna u lill-Malta lill-ue.
Issa lanqas ruġ ma baqgħalkom.
Joseph Borg
Aug 31st 2011, 10:10
Ma nafx ghala dan l ghageb kollu jiena...fl easter il kazini ma jaghmlux party? fil gimgha il kbira ma jarmawx il kazini? fil festi tar rahal ma jorganizzawx festin u jarmaw il kazini? fil milied ma jorganizzawx festini u parties ta tfal u ghal darb'ohra jarmaw il kazini? Allura x hemm hazin li organizzaw festin ghal Musulmani? X ghandhom inqas mil kattolici? Ghaliex kulhadd jassumi li Malta 100% kattolika? Ghaliex il minoranza irridu ntuwha il genb dejjem? Tafu kemm hawn musulmani go pajjizna? Tafu li anki maltin hawn li huma Musulmani qabel ma titkellmu?
Mr charles vella
Aug 31st 2011, 09:11
our dear Joseph Muscat wastes no chance to try to show how entertaining he can be. Muslims have a long tradition with ramadan and I happen to admire them. They should be carefull enough to realise that they are being toys in a game of "pin the vote"
I have nothing against muslims, playing the imam and trying to attract muslims to beleive that it is just a happy moment is really too much to go . It is a vote grabbing iftar, to my opinion as blatant as could be.
But if muslims would like to be so blind and accept to be used in that manner then it is up to them entirely.
These Warm moments in religious festivals are very important for families of all religions. Families around the world cherish these lovely moments. I wish all the muslims in Malta a blessed happy eid and I wish to try and wish same to our new boy happy eid too but I doubt how much he knows about it except that it can catch a few votes.
Vladmir C Forte
Aug 31st 2011, 12:42
Well said...........l-ghatx ghal poter qed jikber, daqt inbihhu ruhna lix-xitan ghal voti !!
Alfred Falzon
Aug 30th 2011, 20:37
A "secular" party trying to curry favour with the Muslim community after its downright flirting with the ruthless Khadafi regime irrespective of the popular uprising against it!
Now is the time for the PL to make a u-turn and play the sympathiser of the TNC, the new and most welcome GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA!
At least, this faceless party seems to have at last acknowledged its past errors in its calculation of the former Libyan despot's power, but the ghost of KMB with his portrait still hanging at the Party Headquarters is still haunting its leadership!
Emmanuel Mazzitelli
Aug 30th 2011, 18:05
Polarization and subtle political hatred plague this country. Read on and you will realize how right I am. Some people never grow!
Darren Portelli
Aug 30th 2011, 14:10
After reading these comments; I am ashamed to be Maltese. You people can stay in your little hole of a country. You are making the rest of us look bad
Adrian Gouder
Aug 30th 2011, 12:54
I have no problem with the PL organising a dinner with Muslims, honestly, but I find this level of opportunism worrying. Did the PL ever organise a Christmas dinner with our Bishop or any other Christian leadership, especially considering that as JM stated, we are predominantly a Catholic (not just Christian) country?
P Buħaġiar
Aug 30th 2011, 12:03
Ġest veru Nobli. NO FOR RACISIM YES FOR UNITY. JOSEPH KEEP IT UP. Things like this move, shows a big political maturity. Do you remember how some people in the 70's and 80's how used to speak and write and discribe other cultures? It's time for PL to use its stations and show some old opposition writings of the 70's and 80's and scary stories.
Ms Maria Vella
Aug 30th 2011, 15:43
Gest nobbli? ghax issa qed jindihes mal musulmani? qatt mar jiekol mal mexxejja tal knisja kattolika jew ma jaqbillux?
VV Bartolo
Aug 30th 2011, 15:57
@ ms maria vella
tridiex tal-Kattolika wkoll ms vella wara kumment bhal dak?
Mr Aaron Vella
Aug 30th 2011, 16:45
This is not about discrimination. If you open your eyes a little you'll understand why Joseph Muscat held a Muslim Iftar now!
Noel Abela
Aug 30th 2011, 19:54
@ Maria Vella
X'ghandu xjaqsam. Kemm ahna fidli u injoranti.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Aug 30th 2011, 11:14
The 'secular party', the one who speaks in favour of Church-State separation, organizing a Muslim feast. As much as we are for Church-State separation, we are for Sharia-State separation. Imagine had a party organized a Christian feast, the hundreds of comments calling it 'confessional' and 'conservative' and 'from the middle ages'. Or doesn't secularism apply to all religions equally?
A comedy of opportunists.
Ms Maria Vella
Aug 30th 2011, 12:19
What do you expect from Joseph Muscat???
Stephen Grech
Aug 30th 2011, 12:58
Spot on. Well said.
Mr Jo Camm
Aug 30th 2011, 11:07
Will these Muslims be entitled to vote in the coming election???????????
Mr Eric Gahn
Aug 30th 2011, 12:20
If they are Maltese citizens they have as much right to vote as catholics and atheists.
Elenor Micallef
Aug 30th 2011, 13:49
If they're Maltese citizens, why not?
Ramon Casha
Aug 30th 2011, 10:58
"Party leader Joseph Muscat said the PL was a secular party in a predominantly Christian society..."
Secular parties do not organise religious activities.
M Damato
Aug 30th 2011, 10:19
M' ALLA(H) IL-LIBERALI U L-PROGRESSIVI MA JHALTUX IL-POLITIKA U R-RELIGJON ....
HASRA LI L-ONE MA XANDRUX PROGRAMM SPECJALI "MILL-MINARETT IL-BARRA"
Mr Peter Agius
Aug 30th 2011, 10:00
Next we should be integrating the Sharia law into our own system......of course for Moslems only. It is their own yardstick isn't it? A Moslem caught stealing......chop off his hand. A Moslem caught commiting adultery...... stone her. We would have two sets of laws so that everybody will be happy. And Ms.Pat Muscat talks about archaic and confessional and a brave new world. Incredulous!
Mr Andrew Azzopardi
Aug 30th 2011, 09:57
I wonder what those columunists and other know-alls who pontificated about the separation of church and state during and after the divorce referendum campaign have to say about this.
Alfred Vassallo
Aug 30th 2011, 09:39
There they go...the blue eyed boys....Jealousy at its best....Now why oh! Why didn't Gonzi go for it first?
Tough boys tough
John Caruana
Aug 30th 2011, 09:23
Kull ma jaghmel il-Labour kollox hazin. Tiftakru kemm ghajru lil Mintoff meta mar ic-China? Imbaghd id-dinja kollha tal-Punent ghamlet bhal Mintoff
Mr Peter Agius
Aug 30th 2011, 10:20
Mhux talli hekk Sur Caruana. Tant kien kbir Mintoff, li gieghel lic-Cina taghmel bhad-dinja kollha tal-Punent.
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Aug 30th 2011, 22:58
Despite all thats been said in Malta and in the british media 40 years ago Mintoff until this very day is one of the most respected political leaders not just hear in britain but the world over, sadly in Malta even after all these years you still have people that harbour gruges against this great man! there will never be another mintoff!
j brincat
Aug 30th 2011, 09:18
@Ernest Vella
'Respecting other's believe is by itself something good, but I don't trust PL. If they don't rebuke there past history of intollerance they are not to be trusted'
Do you trust that party who before the election promises manna on earth and delivers nothing (exception: PM and his ministers who gave themselves € 500 weekly)?
How tolerant is the PN when is comes to giving jobs to head the various Authorities and Corporations with the fat salary pack that they carry? Weren't we promised public calls for applications? How many of these were issued?
(jb)
Mr Biker Man
Aug 30th 2011, 08:53
OOOOOOOOHHHHH X'ahna sbieh min jaf jarana !!!!!
Ms Eve Axiaq
Aug 30th 2011, 09:30
X'ghira hux!
Mr Ernest Vella
Aug 30th 2011, 08:42
Respecting other's believe is by itself something good, but I don't trust PL. If they don't rebuke there past history of intollerance they are not to be trusted. I never heared about the PL celebrating passover, Easter
Mr Joseph Scicluna
Aug 30th 2011, 09:42
You dont trust the pl? I dont trust the pn who has promised heaven on earth through eu membership but lured voters like me are now disappointed! I would give the pl a 5 year try then choose the best fro the worst!
Carmel Xuereb
Aug 30th 2011, 09:47
U l-passat u l-prezent tal-PN nsejtu jew tghid, taqra u tisma dak li jaqbel lilek biss inti. Il-weghdi li ghalulna kemm Fenek Adami u Gonzi fejn huma? Baqghu fuq l-iskaffa? Jiena dawn l-affarijiet ma ninsiex u l-imghoddi tal-PL huwa glorjuz ghax il-PL biss dejjem iggieled ghad-drittijiet u l-gid taghna l-Maltin intom dejjem bsaten fir-roti ghamilti bhal meta mortu l-Germanja tippruvat ixxewxu kontra Malta biex ma jgux jinvestu f'Malta u meta Fenek Adami (jekk m'inhiex sejjer zball) mar il-Libja ghal finijiet ta' mohhu meta Mintoff kisirha ma Gaddafi meta marru l-gunboats Libjani fejn konna ser inhaffru ghaz-zejt go artna. Dawn l-affarijiet insejthom inti sur Vella?
Ms pat muscat
Aug 30th 2011, 08:28
A truly Open, Democratic and European political party! Its the way forward; welcome to the brave new world. Compare this with the cobwebs and medieval mediocrity that the confessional, stuck in the past ,Gonzi PN has to offer!
JOSEPH VELLA
Aug 30th 2011, 08:54
VIVA L-OPPORTUNIŻŻMU
Mr Peter Agius
Aug 30th 2011, 09:50
Next we will be integrating the Sharia law with our laws.....of course for Moslems only. Its their own yardstick isn't it? A Moslem caught stealing......chop of his hand. A Moslem caught commiting adultery....stone her. We will have two sets of laws so that everybody will be happy.
Ms pat muscat
Aug 30th 2011, 10:47
@ P. Agius:You might not know that the PN have included 'Sharia law' in our financial laws because of Islamic Finance! You are too stuck in the past to know!
S. Anastasi
Aug 30th 2011, 08:12
....viva l-lejber, ...there's no business like show business!!!!
D. Xerri
Aug 30th 2011, 08:30
M`Ghadux jitghannaq issa Dr Gonzi ma Gheddafi u jaghmel shake hands bit-tbissima ghall Photos - u d-Demokratika Unjoni Ewropeja Xempju tad-Demokrazijja m`ghadiex tistiednu lid-dittatur go Brussels !
Charlie Borg
Aug 30th 2011, 11:34
@ Xerri: Ghadek hemm? Ghadek ma drajthiex l-UE?
VV Bartolo
Aug 30th 2011, 07:37
PN never change!!
meta fi zmien l-MLP kienu ltaqaw mac-Cinizi ghajruhom KOMUNISTI ... wara ftit snin marru huma.
meta l-MLP ltaqaw mall-Libjani ghajruhom tal-HABBA ZIEZ ... wara ftit snin marru huma.
issa ghax iltaqaw mall-Musulmani qed jghajjruhom li :
Alfred Falzon quote: SHOW BUSINESS,
Carmel Garzia quote: NARAW KIF NAGHMLU BIEX NIRBHU L-VOTI, ANKE TAL-MUSUMANI ISSA WKOLL
sewwa jghid il-Malti li min ma jilhaqx l-gheneb jghid li hu qares!!
D. Xerri
Aug 30th 2011, 08:27
There is another maltese proverb saying - Min Imaqdar irid Jixtri !
Alfred Falzon
Aug 31st 2011, 12:24
@VV Bartolo
Always seeking the limelight following a series of blunders, like the PL's reluctance to condemn ruthless Khadafi's regime by keeping mum or airing slanted news on its TV channel and Radio One throughout the Libyan uprising!
There is ample proof of it and nobody can deny it!
It's black on white!
A faceless party that runs with the hare and hunts with the hound!
Mr Peter Agius
Aug 30th 2011, 06:20
How nice, how sweet, how very thoughtful.....appeasing all and sundry.
Charlie Borg
Aug 30th 2011, 04:43
Why does something keep nagging at me? .... That this is just a show, a PR exercise and that in concrete terms, this is ... just hollow?
Anthony Grech
Aug 30th 2011, 10:11
Answer. Because you are following a hollow party.
Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
Aug 30th 2011, 04:13
Joseph, you are already showing the Maltese people what a great leader you are. This is what I call politics based on honesty. Keep it up. Malta embraces your initiative.
Charlie Borg
Aug 30th 2011, 08:00
A great leader? And with what right do you come speaking on my behalf by saying that 'Malta embraces your initiative'? No, I for one, think it's mere silly.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Aug 30th 2011, 08:25
Charlie Borg silly people think everything done by others is silly.
Edward Gatt
Aug 30th 2011, 09:25
Mr Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
You should declare your bias being a prospective Labour Party candidate for the next general elections.
Mr Joseph Sammut
Aug 30th 2011, 11:20
@ Charlie Borg - that's because you are a nazzjonalist ippantentjat !
Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani
Aug 31st 2011, 08:17
@ Edward Gatt.
Everyone knows that I am a declared Labour Candidate and I stand for Labour out of conviction that our leader is a God send. He is honest not like the PN leaders. Corruption is not my peace of cake otherwise I would have chosen a corrupt party to stand for. Expressing what I feel does not mean that I am biased. Maybe biased is yourself that approves corruption in a party that won elections on "Xoghol , gustizzja u liberta" issue and now we are in debt up to our necks, and that includes you.
Mr Carmel Garcia
Aug 30th 2011, 03:50
Naraw kif naghmlu biex nirbhu l-voti, anke tal-Musumani issa wkoll..
D. Xerri
Aug 30th 2011, 08:25
Like it or Not - Muslims have a significant percentage of our population AND ITS GROWING !
Remember that if you are at Mater Dei Emergency or in a waiting room there is a BIG Probability that one of these Muslims mainly Africans will have priority over you and me that are born maltese - So most of the times they do count more than us maltese Mr Garcia and you just have to adapt to that - Like it or Not ~
Ms Marthese Vella
Aug 30th 2011, 08:46
D Xerri - since when do Muslims or Africans take priority over Maltese or Catholics? The only time Africans (Muslim or not has nothing to do with it) jump the queue is when they are in detention and accompanied by an officer - for the sake of the officer.
Ghala tivvintaw affarijiet biex tgerfxu mohh in-nies?
D. Xerri
Aug 30th 2011, 14:19
@Ms Marthese Vella - So If Im in a detention centre in Nigeria or Sudan accompanied by an officer I will jump the queue :~) for the sake of the officer ?? It happens in so many things - There are maltese families needing a government apartment for these last 20 years and someone with a refugee status gets their apartment !
Do you think I will be in an African Country and I will be given social services for free :~)?
What about an illegal immigrant coming to Malta at the age of lets say 45 and given refugee status and maltese citizenship - That person will be entitled to a maltese pension ! Thats a Nice Deal ! very good indeed and many maltese citizens have to pay 40 years tax contributions to be entitled to a pension.
Same goes for a pregnant woman arriving in Malta - Why not apply for a single-Mother benefit once a maltese citizen - These are just a few examples of where and how our hard earned money is spent Ms Marthese Vella AND NO its not about being Catholic or Muslim or African or European - Its about our taxes and our money !
Mr John Camillleri
Aug 29th 2011, 23:34
Kull vot jghodd!
Alfred Falzon
Aug 29th 2011, 23:34
Show business is not the answer to what the Maltese electorate is expecting in the next legislature!
The PL has lost its credibility, having opted for glamour, superficiality, double standards and power at all cost!
Small wonder that many are losing faith in it.
In fact, the number of floating voters is on the increase and it will be them who will lead!
Miguel Sant
Aug 30th 2011, 09:49
"The PL has lost its credibility, having opted for glamour, superficiality, double standards and power at all cost!"
Did you mean PN?
Alfred Falzon
Aug 31st 2011, 15:44
@ Miguel Sant
Yes, indeed, it's the PL with its white shroud bearing a faint torch fast losing its dim luminosity!
The PL is today a faceless party, unrecognizable, littered with opportunists (and former far right activists)many of whom left the PN and other political groupuscules for failing to get what they aspired for!
Today, this party lies adrift in uncharted waters in search of flotsam and jetsam, trying hard to impress with its so-called new style, after betraying its principles just to please both God and the devil, and ending by pleasing NO ONE!
And its so-called grassroots or what remains of them are more than perturbed by such irresponsible conduct.
Let alone the rest of the Maltese electorate most of whom are floating voters!
Yes, indeed, the PL has today lost its credibility and does not impress the least with its latest ware and cosmetic set-up!
As for the PN, I have already had the occasion to criticise it when the occasion arose and I shall not fail to do so when the time is opportune!
I am a free Maltese promoting a free, uncorrupt Malta not a partisan one subject to the whims and fancies of political clans or tribes which play havoc with their so-called grassroots who follow them sheep-like with their tails behind them!
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Aug 29th 2011, 23:26
first indications of getting pally with the TNC and those clowns that runs it!
Alfred Falzon
Aug 31st 2011, 10:22
@ Charles C Brown
The term "clown" has, it seems, become a catchword for you, featuring in most of your comments!
You seem however to have forgotten the greatest clown of all, the sinister buffoon of the Mediterranean, who went about strutting like a peacock to various countries, with the badge of Africa on one of lapel of his flowing robe, guarded by a cohort of female "bodyguards" (substitute by "harem") not forgetting the bedouin's tent to boot!
He wanted to exterminate all and sundry, calling his own people who bravely rose against his tyranny and corruption "rats" and "cockroaches", burn Tripoli down after he had "played chess" with a Russian lackey, send his military to Europe and overrun it like locusts, turn Europe black (shades of racism) and now he is on the run like a desert rat, fleeing from his people and his conscience like evil Cain after the latter had murdered his brother!
He is the EVIL CLOWN, ominous in his antics, for he lacks one thing that makes the real clown sympathetic: those pearly tears painted down his face, an expression of bereavement and deep sadness for a SUFFERING HUMANITY that bloodthirsty Khadafi has been completely and WILLINGLY oblivious to!
Peter Pace O'Shea
Aug 29th 2011, 23:21
I cannot understand why PL Leader shoule expect to be critisized for initiating an event for the Islam community. Pope John Paul ll was a pioneer in bringing different religions together and if reflected his humanity. I am sure Dr. Muscat will be praised for his actions. That is the spirit after all.