Malian migrant ‘becomes suicidal’ while locked up in squalid detention

One of the nine Malian migrants who have been locked up inside the Safi detention centre ahead of their planned deportation has reportedly turned suicidal.

MaltaToday was informed of this shocking revelation by lawyer Gianluca Cappitta, who has opened a constitutional case in an attempt to prevent their deportations.

“One of the nine migrants called me up twice to inform me about this. He speaks in broken English, so I wasn’t able to tell whether he was referring to himself or to one of the other eight migrants locked up with him,” Cappitta said. “From what I could gather though, he sounded desperate. I am awaiting clearance to visit them later on this week, and if the situation seems serious then I will request that he receives psychological treatment.”

The nine migrants have been locked up in detention since 16 November, when the police arrested them as part of a joint EU project to return failed Malian asylum seekers.

Jean-Paul Borg, an activist with human rights NGO Integra, has warned that they are being subjected to squalid conditions at the detention centre, including thin mattresses, pillows with no vest, and limited access to fresh air. In a Facebook post today, he said that the breakfast – one small baguette-style bread, a hard-boiled egg, and coffee out of polystyrene cups – had not changed since their arrest 51 days ago.

“This gets served around 7am and you have to make do with it till noon. During the night, uncertainty torments them, but even if somehow their eyes close, the guards are there torment them even more with their cell visits,” he wrote on Facebook.

Home affairs minister Carmelo Abela has brushed off concerns that the migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions, arguing that no NGO has ever complained to him about the state of the Safi detention centre. 

Cappittta told MaltaToday that the general mood amongst the migrants is of frustration at being forced to live in a state of limbo, with no knowledge of the government’s plans to deport them.

“Most of them don’t want to return to Mali, but some are now saying that they would rather be deported than to continue living in detention,” he said.

Jamburu Jara, Issa Jaruke, Mama Sangare, Wali Traore, Selia Konate, Mamadou Camara, Segu Diba, Mamadou Traore and Ibrahim Camara arrived in Malta at different points between 2008 and 2015. Upon their arrival, the Maltese authorities instantly slapped with a removal order with just a three-day window to contest it, as is protocol for all asylum seekers.

Cappitta has now opened a constitutional case, arguing that three days is by no means enough time for migrants to challenge their removal orders, and that the indefiniteness of removal orders breaches their human rights.

Lawyer Gianluca Cappitta is appearing for the nine Malian migrants

The court this afternoon threw out his request for the migrants to be released from detention pending the outcome of the constitutional case, saying the elements required for such a release had not been proven.

Judge Lorraine Schembri Orland decreed that, as their removal orders had been issued in conformity with the law, at this stage the court would be basing itself on that premise, although this could change depending on evidence that could emerge during the case.

She argued that the migrants had not provided evidence against the necessity of detention, nor had they claimed a breach of their fundamental right to private and family life. She added that not the slightest reference had been made to the possibility that the Malians had family in Malta, and that the fact that they worked and paid tax in Malta could not in and of itself justify their release.

“It is necessary that this request be supported by proof that, at least vaguely, proves the existence of this right,” she said.

The European Court had consistently refused requests for interim relief except in very particular circumstances, observed the court, saying that an analysis of these judgements highlighted the fact that detention in deportation proceedings is time-capped. This would be dealt with during the hearing of the case proper.