Realtà appeal reveals worrying attitude to censorship – APAP

The Association of Performing Arts Practitioners (APAP) has expressed a “deep concern” at the decision of the Attorney General to appeal against the recent acquittal of author Alex Vella Gera and editor Mark Camilleri over a short story published in student newspaper Ir-Realtà.

The Association found the reasons behind the AG’s appeal to be “unsatisfactory” and “flimsy.” While the short story has no direct connection to the performing arts, the Association viewed the situation as being indicative of unfortunate attitudes in some powerful quarters in relation to censorship.

Explaining her ruling, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said that the editor of the newspaper and the author of the story were exercising their freedom of expression, and she urged Parliament to take the opportunity to clarify the law and make it more functional.

APAP expressed disappointment that, instead of heeding to Demicoli’s suggestion, the AG opted to confront the ruling. 

“It is within the remit of the Attorney General to advise ministers and draft amendments deemed necessary in such updating,” representatives of APAP said. “This is clearly not going to happen, as things stand. Instead, we have what appears to be another assault on artists’ freedom of expression.”

APAP acknowledged the need for classification and to this end, suggested that the Film and Stage Classification Board should operate solely in line with its title. “Bearing in mind the still unresolved case of the banned play Stitching, the Board should avoid engaging in censorship… as is the case in most of the Western World.”

The Association also urged the authorities to revise laws related to censorship and freedom of expression – untouched since 1936 laws related to satire during carnival.