A Maltese woman and her Sudanese partner, who have been barred from buying a property together because he does not have refugee status, are calling on the authorities to allow them to live as a family, together with their two children.

“It’s our greatest wish to live together as a family,” Ruth Schembri, 33, told The Sunday Times of Malta. “The notary advised us that, since we have two children together, no complications should arise. Following his advice, we entered into a promise of sale agreement to buy a small house in Tarxien. But my partner’s application (to purchase the house) has been turned down.”

Prince Nuri Osunde, 44, has been living in Malta for over nine years and has been granted temporary humanitarian protection, meaning that he cannot be returned to his country of origin.

This is re-evaluated annually. He has been in a relationship with Ms Schembri for the past five years. The couple have two children, aged four and two. Mr Osunde, who is self-employed and works in construction finishing, currently rents a small house.

Ms Schembri lives with her mother and four children, two of whom are from a previous marriage.   

“We are so disappointed. It’s so unfair – no one can dictate your feelings and with whom you fall in love,” Ms Schembri said.

“We are not asking for the law to be changed,” Mr Osunde adds. We just wish the authorities to grant us an exception according to our particular case. I’m not buying property for business reasons but to live with my family."

The Finance Ministry said that Mr Osunde’s application for an exemption from the AIP Law has been examined by the Capital Transfer Duty Department.

After thorough consideration, the Department’s recommendation to the Minister was against the granting of such an exemption.

The Attorney General’s Office concurred with the Capital Transfer Duty Department’s recommendation.