With reference to the online news item of February 22, entitled Imam Endorses Nationalist Party, I would like to declare that I did not endorse any particular political party during my speech inside the mosque while introducing Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, to the Muslim community. All I did was greet him, praise him and thank him for supporting the people of the Arab Spring and helping the Mariam Albatool School, as well as wishing him the best. In fact, I did not utter the phrase “futur fis-sod” but I wished the Maltese people “funds fis-sod”.

We invited Gonzi to meet the Muslim community in order to give him the chance to explain to them his electoral programme. He explained what he offered them and what he is going to offer in case of re-election.

Joseph Muscat will be visiting the mosque this Friday and he will have the same opportunity to explain his electoral programme to the Muslim community. The Labour leader will be meeting the community to discuss any issues related to his party’s programme regarding the community.

Thus, we are giving our community the opportunity to make a reasonable and right electoral choice.

I would like to add that the community was addressed by Toni Abela, the Labour Party deputy leader, and Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, the PL president.

We respect all political parties and their leaders. We deal with them equally and enjoy good relations with all of them.

Among the Muslim community there are supporters of both political parties.

I did not exert and will not exert any pressure on members of the community to make them support this party or another. They are clever enough to make the right choice.

There is another point which I would like to correct: the school will not be granted €300,000 yearly if the PN is re-elected, as mentioned in The Times, but these funds will be given to the school irrespective of who will govern after the March 9 election because an official agreement has been signed between Mariam Albatool School and the Maltese Government and not with the respected Nationalist Party.

I would like to apologise for this misunderstanding to all those who were hurt or offended by that incorrect piece of news and assure them of my high respect.

Editorial note: The report noted the Imam’s praise of Gonzi but never suggested he explicitly called for people to vote PN.