AD welcomes freedom of expression in censorship case

AD also called on both parties to act on “outdated laws” on censorship. Deputy chairperson Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer said censorship laws were “unacceptable” and that in an EU state authors were still being prosecuted for their work.

AD Chairperson Michael Brigulio said he was “proud” that AD has expressed solidarity with Mark Camilleri and Alex Vella Gera. “AD supports the Front Against Censorship, and whilst other political parties are ultimately stuck in time when it comes to freedom of expression and opt for keeping things as they are AD - the Green party is clear and consistent in its position for the modernisation of censorship laws as befits a modern democracy.”

Editor of student newspaper Mark Camilleri and writer Alex Vella Gera were acquitted of publishing pornographic and obscene material in their issue of 21 October.

In its ruling, the court decided that the story's writer (Vella Gera) had exercised his freedom of expression through a literary work and had not offended public morals or offend those of University and Junior College students.

The court said the prosecution had failed to produce evidence that defined that public morality is in actuality in Malta, and how it had been infringed.

The court said that it concluded that public morality was something that had changed over time. It added that what offended public morals 20 or 30 years ago did not necessarily do so now, as realities had changed.

Furthermore, the court added, the publication was available only to University and Junior College students, which, it said, were mature students who already had free access to a variety of media including books, newspapers and the internet.

The case was reported to the police by university rector Juanito Camilleri and sparked off a debate on censorship and secularism. There is still the possibility for an appeal against the decision.