Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501675
11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JUNE 2023 police obliged to follow up Manché's complaints the culture of free speech is de- teriorating fast, and the govern- ment is also moving ahead with a very heavy-handed authoritarian law on the press. We must fight this situation or instead, accept that Malta is becoming an au- thoritarian one-party state." Loophole only found if Manché wins Alex Vella Gera was at the centre of the censorship storm thanks to a controversial short story which nearly landed him in prison. Speaking to this newspaper, Gera said the loophole would only be found if Manché wins the cases in court. He slammed the pastor for not being open to criticism. "He is a public person. It's fine for him to make false and sweep- ing statements, but God forbid you say something about him; he's ridiculous," he said. The author also pointed out the lack of solidarity among artists, saying they should take it upon themselves to flood the public space with criticism of Manché. "I would like to see other artists and comedians using their skills to criticise Manché even further. People should repeat the joke, and let's see if he can sue every- one," he said. Artists took the cue and started sharing the hashtag post 'Man- ché is Malta's biggest asshole' on their social media accounts. The pastor's actions also prompted ministers Byron Camilleri and Owen Bonnici to declare that they will be explor- ing legal changes to protect art- ists from attacks on free expres- sion. Bonnici, who had also been at the frontline during the cen- sorship reforms, said the battle against censorship laws and the struggle in favour of artistic free- dom and liberty is, "truly, one which never stops." He told MaltaToday the re- ports put forward by Manché are "a pathetic and desperate exercise of trying to fit a square into a circle". "Yet, as shallow and incongru- ent as it may be, this legal exploit will see the arraignment of art- ists to the court of magistrates in order to answer for criminal charges when the only thing they have done is to express them- selves artistically," he said. "And that right – the right to express oneself artistically – needs to be safeguarded and protected." He also called out the waste of police and justice resources. "Therefore, there is definitely the need to review these par- ticular provisions relating to unlawful use of communication equipment so that they are not abused any longer by people such as Manché. Minister Byron Camilleri and myself have al- ready started the necessary work to propose legal amendments to Cabinet," he said. Read also on MT2 EDITORIAL A pastor carpet bombing comedians into silence (a figure of speech) MICHAEL FALZON The Pastor is serious JOSANNE CASSAR A week of weirdness Alex Vella Gera: 'It's fine for him [Manché] to make false and sweeping statements, but God forbid you say something about him; he's ridiculous' Owen Bonnici: '[Reports filed by Manché are] a pathetic and desperate exercise of trying to fit a square into a circle' Joe Giglio: 'If there is a request, police have to proceed, and it is then decided by the court' Veronique Dalli: 'There are different types of threats, and you have to understand in what situation they were made' Mark Camilleri: 'Under this Labour government the culture of free speech is deteriorating fast'