Hamrun demonstration calls for broader hate crime law
A demonstration calling for hate crime legislation to include crime motivated by gender or sexual orientation, was held in Hamrun this evening in the wake of a recent assault on two lesbian girls.
The peaceful event, which drew some 50 people, was organised by the Malta Gay Rights Movement in association with a number of other groups including Drachma, Aditus, Integra, Moviment Graffitti, AD Youths and the We Are Students' Group.
Several of those who took part carried placards or candles.
Gaby Calleja, who heads the MGRM, said those taking part were calling on the Justice Minister to extend hate crime legislation to include other potentially vulnerable groups. She insisted that the legislation against hate crime should include crime motivated by gender or sexual orientation.
The recent incident - by no means the first - underlined the reality faced by a section of the population, she said.
The police said earlier this week that two teenage brothers who allegedly attacked the lesbian girls will soon appear in court to face charges of assault.
Charges were formally issued against the boys, who have been summoned to turn up in court to face the charges in an upcoming Ħamrun district sitting.
In an interview published in The Sunday Times, a 16-year-old lesbian – who went by the pseudonym of Amy – recounted how she was sitting on a bench with her girlfriend in a Ħamrun square when the two young men attacked them.
The incident took place on January 13 and allegedly started when the boys started hurling insults at the girls from a nearby balcony. They called them “lesbians” and “twisted” and went down into the square.
The 16-year-old girl ended up at a health centre with a fractured nose, a grazed face and bruises on her breasts. Her girlfriend got away with a bruise to the head and scratches on her wrists which she sustained when pushed to the ground.
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Joe Xuereb
Jan 27th, 17:35
@Joe Borg. Quote: 'Anyway what these people are proposing is basically making a group of people more privileged that the others'. You just don't understand, do you?!
@E.Schembri. Quote: 'It seems Malta Gay rights have other things on their agenda, or maybe they want special rights to make up for their orientation differences??
Joe Borg. I'll deal with you first. An extra law has nothing to do with privilege. It is about teaching people that just because someone is different, that is not a reason for hitting them. What is this, a jungle?! You need to understand this (and it takes some deep thinking so I hope you are capable). Namely, if you are perceived - not by yourself, naturally - by others as not being part of the solution (to a problem), then you are part of the problem. Just food for thought, Joe. And your last contribution about dictatorships and democracy would be so funny if it did not show where you're coming from - and I don't mean which village, either.
E.Schembri. The MGRM's only agenda would be to be visible - like heterosexuals. And not to be victims of assault merely for being homosexual. Quote me one single instance where a hetero man was beaten up because he was a hetero red-neck. Heterosexuals do that amongst themselves I have noticed. Men are from Mars and women from Venus, or something. And when hateful Mars meets another in similar mood, feathers fly.
As for homosexuals - and here I can only speak for myself - I am certainly not special. But because my orientation has been downtrodden often and for long enough, I made it my business to gen up on the matter generally, including what makes people like you ride high. And my findings have often been horrific. For instance, it's a known fact that, unless people are ultra religious, when they get 'down and dirty' the last thing on their mind is creating an infant. In this they are like us queers, sex for pleasure (and the horror that that brings about). I also found out that gay men often like the company of women for themselves (no sexual strings tugging at the setup). Hetero men, on the other hand, have this insurmountable barrier between themselves and the woman of the moment. They like women. They like woman. Between one session and another Man is anguished, angry, unhappy, depressed, aggressive. So between one bedding and the next, he is, surprise! surprise! not particularly fond of women. And when he does meet up with one, especially if he is a bit of a Jack-the-Lad type, he gives her whatfor. He has to prove his manliness, you see, partly because he is not sure when again he'll strike lucky and also, pressurized as he is to prove himself, he feels threatened, and will lash out, and often his love-making is nothing short of rape. He takes it out on homosexuals (although he is often known to cavort with said homosexuals). But when shooting his mouth about his sexual prowess with women, he lies by being economical with the truth. He wouldn't dare be upfront. And the price of this is paranoia, further undermining of his weak identity - sexual and anything else. So no, Schembri, I do not need to compensate for my orientation. Timewise I find it burdensome enough - have you heard of the Human Condition, Schembri, and how throughout life, we ALL have to bear and deal with this thing we are saddled with called Human Secuality. Nobody is spared - dealing with whatever I am about without stressing myself out taking on further compensatory baggage. In any case, life is tough but still wonderful when one's head is screwed on the right way. Tough to attain but a bonus worth striving for.
Ms. P.M Graham
Jan 27th, 15:57
The Police were called and interviewed the guys. The girls were taken to a local medical center for treatment. One had a broken nose.
Her parents asked questions of the Police and nothing actually happened until the story went public through the newspapers. only then were the boys arrested and are now due in court.
You see I think that it's me that has the problem LOL If there was a Law (as in many other Countries) Would they have thought twice about assaulting that girl? I actually doubt it.
I automatically assume that if something like that happened to me, that it shouldn't matter whether I am gay, black, green, yellow an alien for goodness sakes, the Law is the Law end of
BUT
If something like that happened to me and the Police DIDN'T take action because i was gay, or a foreigner and somehow in their minds, and the minds of the perpetrator, they justify the attack because after all I am not "normal", "not belonging", to them, then there lays the problem, yes?
No amount of Laws old or new are going to change that. What might change the mentality, because that is what has to change, is education, acceptance, diversity and a campaign to employ more people from minority groups in jobs that uphold the Law.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 27th, 10:33
Sadly, the A. Spiteris and Mario Sammuts, and others, continue their thinly veiled revulsion toward homosexuals (fuelled by what? ignorance, religious indoctrination, self-hatred because they are latent homosexuals, and therefore, fear?). To these I say, you really have a problem. That Maltese law falls short on many levels(just read the comments here on ToM online) is evident. They need to realise that a short-changing legal system in other areas also affects them. As in, 'Gay Oppression is People/Society generally speaking, Oppression'. Or more succinctly, Gay Oppression is Class Oppression.
I have often wondered, when are the Maltese going to stop being 'ġwejjdin'(Sheepish). Maybe at long last they are taking encouragement from recent demonstrations by foreigners in Malta. And about time too. Demonstrations must be reasonable and well organised. If the Authorities mishandle the demonstrators - like when the Authorities visibly fail the System by not arresting and charging known criminals (as in this case) and the shambles that is the Prison Five-star Service, and etc. etc. etc. - then this, I regret to say, is proof that Malta's secularism, EU membership is a 'daħqa fil-wiċċ'(a joke) as, the proof being in the pudding, Malta is still a theocracy living in the Middle Ages. But then it seems to me that those who spout that they have homosexuals friends and that they have nothing against US but say the present laws are adequate, they are living in a theocratic cuckoo-land. And dragging me down with them.
Still there Spiteri? Still there Sammut? And all the sanctimonious ignorant others too numerous to be 'honoured' by a named mention. And yes, people do get the Government that they deserve. And you Spiteri, you Sammut, are of the people, right?! Right!
@A. Spiteri. So gay people can defend themselves, can they?! Only this week, a gay friend of mine who happens to be married with children was attacked by four people simply because he was earning a living selling his wares on the pavement. He was wacked a couple of times about the head but somehow managed to floor all four of them. But this in London. If a situation occurred in Malta and the gay guy happens to be variously, married, a policeman, with children, I think/I know that he would do anything not to get caught in a violent situation because of the repercussions to his whole life. So he lives a secret, frightened life. He is invisible Spiteri, but he is there nevertheless, together with all the other thousands of respectable gay men of every profession under the searing Maltese sun, hiding behind a so-called respectable facade. And they get married and sire children because of people like you, Spiteri.
PS Please note that this comment is not so much about protecting and justifying homosexuality. It is more about raising the self-esteem of homosexuals by default, by laying bare heterosexual hypocrisy and the holes in their fabric.
Maria Spiteri
Jan 27th, 10:16
FORUM ZGHAZAGH LABURISTI (FZL) were present too!
E Schembri
Jan 27th, 10:14
It seems Malta Gay rights have other things on their agenda, or maybe they want special rights to make up for their orientation differences??
A CRIME IS A CRIME! .. who ever the victim is, and what ever the reason. More over, some people are mugged for no reason at all, just because the attacker took pleasure in beating someone up. I don't see why they should protest over this particular incident. After all the aggressors are captured and being brought to justice. Its not like the police failed to do their duty.
In the eyes of the law, everyone is human and deserves protection, irrelevant on your believes, status, color or sexual orientation. So there is no need for special laws addressing a particular sector of society as that would put a precedence over other citizens.
MGR, please stop attracting attention, after all you are no more special then me and any other Maltese.
Dru Francalanza
Jan 27th, 11:42
E Schembri, please note that the police dindn't arrest the brothers under pressure was put upon thanks to the newspaper article last Sunday! If such pressure wasn;t done, then the brothers would stii be around believing that what they did was not wrong, and they can do it again, or even, that they have the right to do it again!! That says alot about the judiciairy system and how the law has to be revised!! I
Its not about attention or special privilidges, its about justice! Simple
Joe Borg
Jan 27th, 09:09
I've still have not read about a crime committed without hate... Anyway what these people are proposing is basically making a group of people more privileged that the others. Therefore its a discriminatory law: such laws are commonly found in dictatorship countries and go against any principle of democracy.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 10:28
Just imagine you were in another country and you were being bashed because you were Maltese.
Dru Francalanza
Jan 27th, 11:45
Its not about making a group of people more priviliged. its about justice, plain as! Remember that nothing happened and the police took no action until pressure was put on them via the newspaper article!!
And after all, yes, i have read about many crimes who are committed without hate towards the person/s invovled!
Ken Cowan
Jan 27th, 08:43
When "marriage is marriage "irrespective of whether the couple is straight or gay, THEN you might have logic on your side.
E Schembri
Jan 27th, 10:32
Ken ...once again... nobody is talking about marriage!
This is a crime issue, so please don't start rambling on issues that are not relevant to the article.
PS. Hope your next post won't include the church.. and that the church is motivating such attacks.
Ken Cowan
Jan 29th, 23:57
To E Schembri: obviously you completely misunderstood :
you said: "A CRIME IS A CRIME! .. who ever the victim is...In the eyes of the law, everyone is human and deserves protection, irrelevant on your believes, status, color or sexual orientation."
So I took your logic and turned it against itself by saying " A Marriage is a Marriage ...no matter what your sexual orientation."
Since you don't think it necessary to have special laws for gays about crime, then why have special laws for gays concerning marriage?
As you say, "In the eyes of the law, everyone is human"...so if a guy loves a guy and wants to marry... the laws should be the same. ou marry the one you love and want to spend your life with. Period.
But you keep changing the goal posts, depending on which law you wish to uphold. If a law about assault is good enough whether you are gay or straight, then a law about marriage is also good enough, whether you are gay or straight.
You can't have it both ways; when you support the right for gays to marry, Ii'll support the idea that there should not be any special laws for hate crimes. Deal?
A Spiteri
Jan 27th, 08:15
homosexual people are not vulnerable....they are able to defend themselves just as any other.
these people are not for equal rights, but for special rights!
Michelle Galea
Jan 27th, 08:30
?? So its okay to attack someone because they are gay?? or because they are black? have tattoos?? They are doing for everyone not just themselves.
"calling on the Justice Minister to extend hate crime legislation to include other potentially vulnerable groups!"
Joe Fenech
Jan 27th, 09:12
In a way you're right, but at the same time if people chose to attack teenagers because of their sexual orientation then, yes, they can be seen as vulnerable.
Clayton Borg
Jan 27th, 09:37
"these people" as if to imply that they are any different from you and me. How can homosexual people ask for special rights when they don't have equal rights? Not even their most basic need is been taken care of by the justice system..
Because it's a crime on homosexual people, the police went up to their apartment and spoke to them. What makes this case so different from the Sliema/Gzira gang who guess what...got convicted
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100503/local/gzira-youth-gang-members-convicted.305564
Do not try to convince me that had the Hamrun incident not been brought to the public's attention, that the legal system would have jumped in to protect the rights of the 2 girls who were attacked.
Dru Francalanza
Jan 27th, 11:47
do you really believe that!! IF you use that logic than everyone can defend themselves, so we don't need laws or any police orders!!!
Its not about making a group of people more priviliged. its about justice, plain as! Remember that nothing happened and the police took no action until pressure was put on them via the newspaper article!!
And come on, she is 16!!!
I Bugeja
Jan 27th, 16:47
Even you are able to defend yourself mr a spiteri? If yes you should go in the midst of an MGRM protest, and speak your thoughts. I am sure that a couple of my gay friends can bash you up real good - then i would ask you the same question you asked afterwards. X'tahseb?
Mario Sammut
Jan 27th, 06:10
What next ????
Noel Mifsud
Jan 27th, 04:58
Jekk mhux se niggarantixxu li kulhadd jghix b mohhu mistrih f dal pajjiz veru waqana fil hama. Int x int sakemm ma idejjaq u twegga lil hadd kulhadd ghandu dritt ghal opnijoni tieghu.
B Attard
Jan 27th, 09:49
Naqbel mieghek pero sar 'fuss' zejjed ghax dawk li jissejhu thugs jehel ma rashom minn jahsel ikun fi mira taghhhom din id-darba sfortunatament nzxertaw dawn it-tfajliet, setghu kienu anzjani tfal nisa jew irgiel il-vittmi. Ghalhekk issa mportanti li jhallsu ta' ghemilhom mhux qisu ma gara xejn.
Mr C Galea
Jan 27th, 01:59
Hallelujah, Malta and the Maltese are waking up to their rights at last. I always questioned when this is going to be the case? It is so great to see such action amongst the Maltese, I commend you. P N listen to your people, P L listen to the public and take a bipartisan approach and change these laws off Malta and come up with truly decent anti discrimination laws against all kinds of people in society as the Maltese public now desperately needs them. The laws must clearly cover gays, lesbians transgender and the rest. Equality to women must not be excluded.Any party that is prepared to show initative in doing so will get my full support.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 10:31
Forget the PN. It is a lost cause. The party would have been different had they elected a parliamentarian like Louis Galea. He was open-minded not like the one they ended up with. What do you expect from a Gonzi?
Joe Xuereb
Jan 27th, 01:15
Most comments so far see no reason why homosexual people should be singled out, and are saying that the laws against assault covers everybody. Not so.
For sure, when an elderly woman suffers assault there is an outcry because it is a crime (the fact that there is a law against assault does not stop the woman being assaulted). But the point I want to make is that elderly women generally speaking are liked, certainly not disliked because they are elderly.
When it comes to homosexual people being the victims of assault there is a fine distinction. Generally speaking, homosexual people are frowned upon some even calling them abominations (have you ever heard an elderly woman being called an abomination because she is elderly? No, I didn't think so). So a law that specifically says it is a crime to assault gay people, this would be redressing an injustice towards gay people that is long overdue. The State, the Church and, surprise! surprise! society do not think much good of homosexuals. The least the law can do is to say, homosexuals are not for hitting. A strong message that will go some way to undo the damage done to them since forever. Of course this will not stop assaults against gay people but a changed law goes some way towards educating people generally that it is a crime to assault, particularly if the victim is homosexual and suffered aggression because of his/her sexual orientation. An elderly lady will suffer mugging because she is an easy target, but she will not be attacked for no reason other than that she is elderly. Sadly, aggression towards homosexuals and any others will continue because that is the way of the world. But making aggression towards homosexuals illegal will go some way towards getting the message across that homophobia is unacceptable. Who knows? maybe the penny will drop and few elderly ladies will be attached.
All this sounds rather convoluted I know and, simplified or not, crime will continue. If nothing else because people who cannot see the need for a specific law choose not to see it because their principle in life is to live under a blanket that fits all; it is easier like that. Less complicated. Little do they know that with such thinking, they are condemning themselves to a short-changed life of unreason.
@P.Vincenti. Of course everybody needs protection. But usually, assault happens for a variety of circumstances that have nothing to do with the victim himself. So to be assaulted for who you are, i.e. homosexual, there is a subtle difference. I guess it takes a homosexual to understand this. To any hot-bloodied heterosexual who is spouting that a crime is a crime and therefore, the law as it stands is sufficient, may I suggest one little exercise. Just thing how YOU would feel if you were assaulted because of your heterosexual orientation? Of course that is not likely to happen seeing that heterosexual people live in a largely heterosexual world. While a homosexual has to live in a heterosexual world that is most often inimical to him/her. Bully for them! And just food for thought for you, Vincenti.
E Schembri
Jan 27th, 10:27
I disagree with you.
There will always be criminals and thus don't expect that assaults won't happen.
However, I if special laws should be added, it is more important to protect the elderly rather than gay people, as a gay person is able to defend themselves, but elderly, as you said, are more vulnerable since they no longer can defend themselves, thus society is expected to give a helping hand.
I believe the current homophobia is created by the gay movement themselves in a bid to get preferential treatment. I have gay friends and nobody treats them differently from others.
After all, you will always find the odd person who mocks someone for some reason. Lately, and more so in the future, simply being a Catholic is attracting a lot of mockery, take a look a facebook, it is full of oppression against the church and it followers. So what should we do, create special laws to protect Catholics? Would you agree with that?
I don't think so.
All we need is for the justice system to be more effective and treat convicted criminals with harsher punishments. Otherwise, the laws are adequate.
R Galea
Jan 26th, 23:41
Tal-Moviment Graffiti l-aqwa!! Kullimkien tarahom maaan!! :D
Imma tghid ghandhom agenda / mission statement??
Robert Callus
Jan 26th, 23:37
@Michael Borg
"so if i have a fight with a lesbian , i will be branded as rasisct or whatever you call it !! a fight is a fight which is wrong whether it s a lesbian , a gay, black white"
NO you will not. A crime committed on a gay/lesbian in itself, let alone a fight, will not constitute a hate crime in itself. It will constitute a hate crime if you beat up a lesbian BECAUSE she is a lesbian, like the case that happened recently clearly suggests
Alfred Grech
Jan 26th, 23:13
Those were two people out of a population of 420,000. No need to panic.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 27th, 08:34
Yeah, right. But if one of them had to be your daughter, your sister or your mother, you would be singing a different tune!
Clayton Borg
Jan 27th, 09:52
I believe it's the concept that is important here...not the number...although if you want to speak in numbers i do believe you are not counting the large amount of similar cases that go unreported and the other large amount of similar cases that are reported but nothing is done...bin naqra n naqra timtela l-garra.
On the other hand, I'm sure you wouldn't be this insensitive had the "2 people" been close to you like family members...cause speaking personally, I'd have freak out had these "2 people" been my kids and I would want it to cause such a stir if it might help it not happening again
It's like when there is a case of horrifying scenes of one particular domestic violence and then it hits the entire nation...it would have been 1 person out of 420,000 wouldn't it?
Dru Francalanza
Jan 27th, 11:49
Yes we need to raise up to the situation Alfred! The two people had guts to stand up to a situation that exists but no one dares talking about!! Its not the first time that happend, and it needs to be addressed!!
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 27th, 11:52
@ Alfred Grech:
And you are just one person, so perhaps I need not panic.
Joe Fenech
Jan 26th, 22:11
Hate law?: see a recent blog by a notorious, chronically anger stricken so-called-journalist and see what a hate-mongerer really is!
Ms.D. Galea
Jan 26th, 21:48
Is beating up ,mugging or burgling old people a hate crime......... or has the old victim got to be a homosexual , coloured or of a particular creed (or no creed at all) in order to attract the attention of the media and the NGOs in question?
A CRIME IS A CRIME irrespective of colour creed, sexual orientation or age.
Ken Cowan
Jan 27th, 08:47
By the way, if the victim had been a 75 year old woman and eyewitnesses had pointed out the attackers to the police, do you think it would have taken the police 5 days to serve the arrest warrant?
They would have been arrested immediately...
E Schembri
Jan 27th, 10:42
Come on Ken,
Stop creating this phobia and blowing things out of proportion.
Everybody knows that the justice system in Malta is slow and inefficient. I'm sure they didn't take five days to arrest them simply because they claimed to be lesbian. The police don't care what sexual orientation you have, a crime is a crime and will be handled the same.
Dru Francalanza
Jan 27th, 11:51
Crime in itself is bad! But do Remember that nothing happened and the police took no action until pressure was put on them via the newspaper article!! Its about justice and equality!
V. Cauchi
Jan 26th, 21:25
The Criminal Code, Cap. 9, already caters for an offence in art. 339 (1) (n) hereunder for several underpriveleged classes of persons. Do we really need to have a new law for a "hate crime" or can we add on new classes to the existing provision? Would not the classes already described in para. (n) below be discriminated against if new, stiffer punishments are given to newly established classes of persons?
339. (1) Every person is guilty of a contravention against the person who -
(n) annoys, vexes or scoffs at any imbecile, aged, crippled, feeble or deformed person; ...
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 10:26
So are you saying that a lesbian or a gay man is an imbecile, an aged person, a crippled person, a feeble person or a deformed person? Legislation has an educative role and it is clear that in your case there is a long way to go. Why is the number of Maltese still residing in Malta so high, I wonder? Are you drinking too much salt water?
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 26th, 21:13
I called for anti-vilification legislation at least by 1997 with the publication of Il-Ktieb Roza. Time for the rest of Maltese gay men and lesbians to wake up from their slumber.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 26th, 21:10
So fifty attended the demonstration. What about those gay men and lesbians who go to the bars so frequently? Have they got no conscience to support such a rightful cause? Well done to Gaby, the MGRM and other supporting groups for their determination to improve Malta's lot for gay men and lesbians.
Stefan Zammit
Jan 26th, 21:03
No there shouldn't be "special laws or crimes" for different people. If we are the same people, it's one group no matter if you're gay, stragiht, lesbian, black, white, or yellow - if we are all equal, equal laws should apply. Mind you I'm not saying that these bullies should not be punished - in fact I do believe that they should be administered a nice dose of prison and social duty and even a monetary compensation for these poor girls. If anything pass harsher laws condeming all forms of violence.
P. Vincenti
Jan 26th, 20:55
Whether the crime was against homosexuals, people of other race or religion, the crime is still a crime. Why single out specifically crimes against a segment. All humans deserve protection from any crime.
Joe Debono
Jan 26th, 21:38
That's the point exactly Mr. Vincenti. As it currently stands, the law fails to protect a segment of the Maltese population while as you so rightly said, "all humans deserve protection." BTW, have you ever heard the term 'legal loophole?'
c p agius
Jan 26th, 23:24
Why do you specifically single out crime against embryos?
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 00:10
Because some members of society are more likely to be victims and because the act of aggression is being motivated by a characteristic of the victim such as race and sexuality.
Ken Cowan
Jan 27th, 00:12
If someone attacks you (for example for your money) it is a random attack, and does not humiliate you for simply being who you are, as a racially motivated attack would, or one based on a person's religion, sex or sexual orientation. As opposed to "ordinary" crimes, these are specifically based on hate. There is a Fascism to them which deserves greater sanctions, because they are no longer really against an individual, but against an entire society, or at least an entire section of society.
Mr Edward Caruana Galizia
Jan 27th, 00:57
It's very simple Mr Vincenti. Hate crimes are not just crimes. Their effects stretch further than just the victims and families involved.
Hate crimes are also known as Bias motivated crime. When the core of a person’s identity is attacked, the degradation and dehumanization is especially severe because of the discriminatory motivation behind the violence which does not exist in other crimes.
The whole country also suffers from the disempowerment of a group of people.
And to add to this, there is the risk of retaliatory crimes not to mention that when one hate crime happens, then that might inspire others to commit similar hate crimes and the whole situation can escalate- like the riots in LA in the 1990s
.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 22:06
This is a Caruana Galizia I find much to agree with. Good on you!
Jimmy Magro
Jan 26th, 20:51
The peaceful event - this is not warranted as we are not in a state of war.
Why do reporters/journalists escalate the defcon when we are a peace loving country.
James McIntosh
Jan 27th, 07:37
@ Jimmy Magro, please refer to the term "peace" in a dictionary for your answer: Peace ; a state of harmony, an absence of conflicting attitudes etc.
What was wrong with the article as reported, according to your interpretation
Franco Farrugia
Jan 27th, 08:33
'Peace-loving country'? Who? Us, in Malta? You must either be living in a different country than mine, or certainly you must have a concept of 'peace' which is different to mine, and I suspect that the answer is in the latter.
Jimmy Magro
Jan 27th, 10:29
@James McIntosh
I do not know how long you have been living in Malta and I guess that you have an Irish descent; hence it is natural that you and me have a different appreciation and perspective on the interpretation of the article in question. This differentiation comes from the concept of multi-culturalism and diversity. Based on my Maltese cultural background, the phrase "peaceful event" was frivolous as the journalist need only report if the demonstration was not peaceful. Inserting the word peaceful in the article gave the impression that there were those in favour and those against but still the demonstration was peaceful. Since the demostratin was held with about 50 persons and all of the same view, I would not have imagined that they would be at war between themselves.It has become customary in our media reports to escalate the matter for sensational values since the media is more prone to make money than being of service to the citizens. You are aware of the scandolous situation in the UK which led to downfall of the News of the World. I hope that our media does not come up this shallow level.
@Franco Farrugia
I am very proud to have a diferent opinion than yours. Even if this is interpreted as me living in another world. But I would again state that Malta is a peace loving nation, and I am proud to be a of Maltese origin and a Maltese Citizen.
James Wightman
Jan 26th, 20:48
Hate is hate in any form, so yes
Michael Borg
Jan 26th, 20:44
a crime is a crime no need to be potentially vulnerable groups
so if i have a fight with a lesbian , i will be branded as rasisct or whatever you call it !! a fight is a fight which is wrong whether it s a lesbian , a gay, black white !! no need to define it anymore , no need fro more laws !!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 26th, 21:13
You obvoiusly have a very confused mind.
Joe Debono
Jan 26th, 21:48
Gaby Calleja (MGRM) explicitly stated that her organisation wasn't asking for a complete re-evaluation of the current laws pertaining to hate crime, but that the current laws are extended to protect people against violent crimes inflicted on the basis of sexual orientation. In other words Mr.Borg, nobody expressed the need for "more laws."
Christine Vella
Jan 26th, 22:43
Yes indeed there is the need because thanks to people like these boys gays and lesbian cannot show their feelings in public like you can with your girlfriend/ wife cause you are risking getting beaten up. What a shame
Ken Cowan
Jan 27th, 00:18
This was not a "fight" - it was an attack;
This was not two people who got angry because someone tried to steal something, or broke your kid's toy or whatever - it was a concerted attack - bullying another person SIMPLY because of who she is.
So don't pretend this is like any ordinary barroom brawl or whatever.
As obtuse as your comments seem to be, I think you'd understand if suddenly the entire society decided that anyone with the name Borg was deserving of being attacked only because of his name.
George Attard
Jan 27th, 00:41
these people were attacked BECAUSE of their sexual orientaion, not because they had an arguement with them. they were singled out and verbally and physically abused, of coarse it needs to be defined. if you have a fight with a gay person you will not be branded as homophobic or if you fight with a person of different color than you, you will not be branded as racist, you're missing the point, it is HOW the crime came to be. if it is antagonized by one to another because of thier sexual orientaion or color of their skin it is a hate crime and that is what needs to be addressed here. We are living in a time (maybe not a country) where these types of crimes are very sensative to society, more awareness is needed and more importantly acceptance.
Mr Marcel Dingli
Jan 26th, 20:40
Cheesy of the boys, wasnt it?