The Malta Gay Rights Movement has been awarded €4,000 in two separate libel cases over allegations that the organisation was being financially supported by an international promoter of abortion.
The dual lawsuits, filed against Alliance for Change president Ivan Grech Mintoff and the Gift of Life Foundation, stemmed from comments posted on social media alleging that the MGRM was being funded by the American Planned Parenthood, the largest single provider of reproductive health services, including abortion, in the US.
In October 2015, MGRM had penned a letter published on The Malta Independent on Sunday referring to comments made public earlier by Mr Grech Mintoff who, in turn, had posted further remarks on Facebook and YouTube stating that Gaby Calleja [representative of MGRM] “ADMITS to taking money from MURDERED CHILDREN to fund her own personal agenda".
In the course of the proceedings, the court observed that the American Planned Parenthood was one of 141 members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation which had rendered “330,000 abortion-related services” in 2011.
The MGRM had signed an Advocacy Flexi Fund Funding Agreement with the International Federation in 2010, thereby obtaining $10,000 by way of a donation from the ‘David and Lucille Packard Foundation’ to be used “for the project titled A Gender Identity Law for Malta.”
MGRM was not “to use the funds for any other purpose unless written permission has been received from the IPPF.”
The court, presided over by magistrate Francesco Depasquale, observed that the evidence clearly showed that the funds obtained by MGRM had not been generated through the killing of babies.
Nor had they been intended for the promotion of abortion in Malta, a topic which, though likely to generate debate and contrasting views, did not justify conclusions based on “very remote circumstances and certainly not substantially correct”, the court said.
The comments made by Mr Grech Mintoff were “incorrect” and “very disloyal towards his followers” by failing to inform them that the IPPF’s vision was to militate against gender-based discrimination- a right also safeguarded under the Maltese constitution and the EU Convention.
While everyone had a right to a personal opinion, everyone and particularly a political figure like Mr Grech Mintoff owed “loyalty towards truth and honesty”, an obligation in which the respondents had failed “by twisting facts to cast a shadow” upon the MGRM, the court declared.
In view of the gravity of the allegations which bore criminal implications, namely the killing of babies, the court found the comments defamatory and ordered Mr Grech Mintoff to pay €3,000 in libel damages.
In a parallel case, the Gift of Life Foundation was ordered to pay €1,000 in libel damages over a Facebook post starting off with “ BREAKING NEWS! ARE THE MALTA GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT BEING SUPPORTED BY INTERNATIONAL ABORTION PROMOTERS - PLANNED PARENTHOOD?”
The pro-life group had alleged that MGRM was in favour of abortion, a claim denied by Ms Calleja, as representative of the movement, who said that no stand had yet been taken on this issue.
Lawyers Cedric Mifsud and Gianluca Cappitta were counsel to the applicant.