Attacks against anti-racists must end

Amnesty International is concerned that a pattern of arson attacks is taking place against persons and organizations which have spoken out against racism in Malta. These attacks must end, states a public statement issued by Amnesty International USA:

..Amnesty International calls on the Maltese authorities to take effective steps to protect the lives and safety of those at risk of such attacks and to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice. The organization also urges the government to make combating racism and xenophobia a top priority for governmental action, in the short as well as in the long term.

In Malta, the Jesuit Community has taken a pro-active role in speaking out against racism and in defending the human rights of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. In November 2005, two cars belonging to a Jesuit Community resident at Dar Manuel Magri in Imsida were set alight. In early March 2006, the front door of poet’s house was subject to an arson attack just a few days after he launched a book containing poetry which promoted tolerance and refugee rights. On 13 March, seven cars belonging to the Jesuit Community were burnt down during the night, just a few days after the launch of the Report on Racism and Xenophobia in Malta by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC). The Jesuit Community is EUMC’s main contact (focal point) in Malta..

It seems that the targets for the attacks are persons or organizations who have actively worked to protect the human rights of migrants and refugees, or who have publicly spoken out against racist and discriminatory attitudes and actions. Amnesty International is concerned that these attacks occur in a context of growing racist sentiments in Malta among non-state actors, and that racist speech and attacks are finding increasing amounts of legitimacy among the Maltese population...