A human rights group working closely with migrant and asylum seekers is urging the Prime Minister to condemn “vulgar an offensive” remarks levelled against it by Malta’s special envoy to the World Tourism Organisation and former minister Joe Grima.

In an open letter, Aditus director Neil Falzon yesterday referred to remarks which Mr Grima posted on his Facebook account on Friday, but which were later removed.

In his post, the government envoy expressed his views on a story published by Times of Malta in which Dr Falzon called for the authorities to give migrants the right to vote and stand in local elections.

“Whoever shares these extreme views is nothing but an indecent rapist of our culture and traditions. His place is in a detention centre...” the post read.

The NGO director said that the “convenient” removal of that post should not be interpreted as a retraction or an apology and called for the government to take action.

Dr Falzon noted that his organisation was constantly on the receiving end of negative discourse, racist comments, threat and various accusations due to its work.

He said that contrary to other occasions when they normally would ignore such incidents, the “level of disgust and the sheer vulgarity of Mr Grima’s statements” could not be ignored due to his pubic position.

Dr Falzon said he was appalled that an individual enjoying high-level government support was “apparently ignorant or disrespectful of the serious responsibilities attached to such support, particularly with regard to the treatment of civil society organisations and their staff members”.

He added that Mr Grima’s remarks were unacceptable in a democratic society.