Tag: Free speech
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The Labour Party has become a movement against the free press
Under the leadership of Robert Abela, the Labour Party has been gradually propagating a negative sentiment against the free press, often accusing it of being negative and defamatory. The Labour Party’s accusations against the free press are also often associated with the “negative faction” of the Opposition and this constant attack against the free press…
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Nationalist Party proposes transparency in public media funding: doesn’t propose libel-symmetry principle
In its electoral manifesto, the Nationalist Party is proposing transparency in public media funding. This would partially bring Malta in line with the European Media Freedom Directive. In contrast, the Labour Party is proposing to increase libel damages. PN however, is not proposing the law previously proposed by its MPs, Karol Aquilina and Claudette Buttigieg…
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Labour Government proposes anti-free speech measures in the Constitution
The Labour government is currently trying to veto free speech with a constitutional amendment tabled in parliament that states that the free speech should come with responsibilities and that restrictions should apply. The Labour government did not announce these proposals and does not have an electoral mandate to implement them. The Labour government is trying…
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Republicans pivot from Free Speech advocates to crusaders against Hate Speech
The atmosphere around President Donald Trump and his associates following Charlie Kirk’s murder is one of retribution as the President directs his party and his government to address what he describes as “hate speech” and “paid agitators”. President Trump also instructed his Attorney General to look into these matters following a visit he made to…
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New Bansky artwork in London highlights deterioration of free speech in the UK
A new stencil artwork sprayed over the wall of the Queen’s Building of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London (Carey Street) was yesterday unveiled and confirmed by Bansky via his official Instagram account. The new mural was covered with sheets and metal barriers were put it up around it. The artwork depicts a…
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New Constitutional amendment can prohibit the publication of information on grounds of national security
While the Nationalist Party is busy dealing with a leadership campaign, the Labour government has been passing controversial amendments in laws in parliament without consultation or much debate. One of these reforms include a law against fake news. Now, the Labour government is passing a Constitutional amendment in parliament which restricts the publication of information…
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A host of criminal lawyers who are against free speech
The Nationalist Party’s new populist triumvirate: Adrian Delia, Alex Borg and Franco Debono have repeatedly and consistently expressed their position against free speech in various ways. Adrian Delia initiated a libel case against Lovin Malta and ran his first leadership campaign in opposition to Daphne Caruana Galizia. Franco Debono cried foul when Manuel Delia called…
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Doubling down is not an apology
Yesterday, one of the producers of Bajd u Bacon released an unapologetic apology regarding the incident involving a transphobic joke about a private individual. Although Max began by apologising to the individual who was targeted, he went on to claim that what he did was not wrong, as it fell within his freedom to perform…
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Education Minister Clifton Grima says it is correct to censor teachers
While being confronted by a teacher during Jon Mallia’s show “Il-Każin”, Education Minister Clifton Grima said that the government is just following normal procedure by censoring teachers and compelling them to ask for permission to speak to the media. He also said that it was the right thing to do because comments on the education…
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Ombudsman releases historic opinion on free speech of educators on the eve of Labour Day
The Ombudsman, ex-Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, has released a historic decision on the eve of Labour Day condemning the directive by the Ministry of Education censoring educators from making any public comments on the education system. the Ombudsman said that educators do not lose their freedom of speech once they start working for the Department…
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The lower Courts are consistently taking decisions against free speech in line with government policy
Following the libel “damages” imposed on us by the lower courts in a case filed by university academic Simon Mercieca, where court fees raised the total costs by around €5,000, we issued a statement saying that we will comply with the court order. However, we also made it clear that we disagree with the ruling.…
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Protests continue in Turkey: Elon Musk blocks Turkish Opposition accounts on X.com for the second time
Protests have continued during the weekend in Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey over the detention of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. He was arrested on corruption charges and aiding the PKK, but Turkish citizens accuse the government of clamping down on the Opposition. Ekrem Imamoglu was earmarked as the main potential Opposition contender for the Turkish…
