‘Malta still in the middle ages… like North Korea’, AD on censorship regime

Chairperson Michael Briguglio said AD, which is participating in the anti-censorship march organised by the Front Against Censorship, believes no artistic production should be banned, referring to the total censorship of the Anthony Nielsen play Stitching.

“It seems though Malta has joined the European Union, in many aspects we are still in the middle ages. It is disturbing that state institutions should decide what is acceptable and what is not within the arts. This is reminiscent of dictatorial regimes – from North Korea to Iran – whose state structures aim to create a monolithic conformist identity, devoid of freedom In advanced modern societies where individuals are reflexive, such imposition from the state is unacceptable.”

Briguglio said no artistic production should be banned, “provided there are clear guides such as age classification and warnings on content shown... a difference should also be made between art and the spreading of hate such as that of the neo-nazi type.”

Briguglio added that if the recent decision of the Civil Court on Stitching were to be applied consistently, “we might as well close down our film-theatres for showing films full of violence and explicit content. We might as well ban MTV for showing provocative videos and empty bookshelves for having books that are deemed ‘incompatible’.”

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD spokesperson for Civil Rights, said that while freedom of expression protected opinions that shock, disturb or offend, it should not be used to “incite violence or hatred”. “AD supports the Front Against Censorship and we once again, together with the European Green Party, express our solidarity with Mark Camilleri and Alex Vella Gera who were taken to court due to their respective roles in Realtà newspaper.”