Update 2 | Broadcasting Authority orders withdrawal of far-right electoral ad

Citing "an evident association between the content of the spot and incitement to racial hatred," the Broadcasting Authority has ordered the withdrawal of an inflammatory political message by the far-right Imperium Europa.

The spot, broadcasted on Tuesday evening after the 8pm news bulletin, alleged that ‘African’ migrants had introduced numerous diseases in Malta – in a reference to asylum seekers crossing from Malta. But after the Broadcasting Authority appeared to have green-lit Imperium Europa’s political message, the government condemned the authority.

Speaking to MaltaToday, the government’s head of communications Kurt Farrugia condemned the clip and said that xenophobic messages had no space on state television.
 
“A clip like this is definitely unacceptable in a democratic society. While respecting the authority’s autonomy, the government has informed the Broadcasting Authority of its concerns. The government strongly denounces the clip aired,” Kurt Farrugia said.

However, the Broadcasting Authority has now decided the order the withdrawal of the spot, saying that is has now become “evident that the sport is creating a situation which could lead to incitement to racial hatred.”

“The Broadcasting Authority has become aware of the negative reaction on the public media to the spot produced by Imperium Ewropa and that it is now becoming evident that through an association of ideas the spot is creating a situation which could lead to incitement to racial hatred.”

“From a perusal of the statements being made on the media there is an evident association between the content of the spot and incitement to racial hatred,” the Authority said. 

In addition, the Broadcasting Authority argued that the association of ideas was not initially manifested, but notwithstanding this, the association between the spot and racial incitement has become apparent “in light of the reaction on the public media.”

 “The Authority has decided to order the immediate withdrawal of this spot and ask Imperium Ewropa to substitute this spot with another one which does not create the concerns expressed,” it said.

The spot alleges that ‘African’ migrants had introduced numerous diseases in Malta, and that migrants had led to an escalation of criminality, one of Imperium Europe’s central planks in the forthcoming European elections. It is accompanied by sensational file photos of unidentified skin diseases, together with an amateur video of a black person involved in a fight in Paceville – a place where entertainment and hot-headedness go hand-in-hand.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit said the matter “had not yet been brought” to his attention, but added that he was conducting inquiries.

Imperium Europa’s spot could be in breach of Article 82A of the Criminal Code, which states that threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to stir up violence or hatred against a group on grounds of race or ethnic origin can face an imprisonment term.