Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/739617
18 JURGEN BALZAN THE University of Malta has launched an investigation into an online homophobic attack by Ste- phen Florian, who is a visiting lec- turer. In a statement issued yesterday, the University of Malta "unreserv- edly" dissociated itself from all ac- tions "which attempt to promote discrimination and/or incitement to racial hatred against any groups of people." This came after Florian attacked activist and University student Alex Caruana for being transgender af- ter the 27-year-old held a counter protest during a demonstration by right-wing and Islamophobic group by the Ghaqda Patrijotti Maltin of which Florian is a leader. The University of Malta said it was investigating the homophobic com- ments made by Florian and under- lined its commitment to supporting and protecting diversity and the rights of all individuals. "Whilst affirming the right to freedom of expression and associa- tion, the University of Malta con- demns all actions which are moti- vated, wholly or partly by any form of hostility towards diverse groups." In his homophobic online rant, for which he has since apologised, Flo- rian said "time we got to know who Alex Caruana really is and was," adding that "this girl who now calls herself Alexander, was one of the three atheists who came to photo- mob [sic] the MPM Bugibba protest and the same one who on Xarabank, blundered in her numbers when stating garbled data about the 'bil- lions' of Muslims living in Malta and worldwide." The University of Malta also explained that contrary to some reports Florian is not a full-time academic but a visiting part-time lecturer. MUT dissociates itself The Malta Union of Teacher (MUT) also disassociated itself completely from "Florian's activi- ties, comments, actions associated with third party organisations he might be associated with." The MUT noted that it has always been very pro-active in combating discrimination based on race, gen- der and religion "and there is no way that under the present administra- tion this will change." However, although Florian is a un- ion member, UHM said that it can- not remove him from his position as a delegate representing teach- ers from the Higher Secondary in Naxxar as delegates are chosen sole- ly by the members on the work place and Florian was elected as delegate last year following the retirement of the previous delegate. "Mr Florian has no role within the Union except that of being a link between the members at his school and the Union's central administra- tion in case there is an issue which concerns members collectively. If members at the Higher Secondary are unhappy with their choice of delegate they are most welcome to initiate a new process to elect some- one new," the union said. UMASA condemns bullying The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) also en- tered the fray and in a statement it said that students and members of staff who feel that they have been victimised can file an official com- plaint with the University and avail themselves of the procedures stipu- lated in the bullying and harass- ment policy. It added that both complainants and defendants have the right to be represented by their respective un- ions and student bodies. UMASA also condemned any form of harassment and bullying and said that it supports the Uni- versity wholeheartedly in the just implementation of its Harassment and Bullying Policy. News maltatoday, TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2016 University launches investigation into lecturer's homophobic online rant Stephen Florian was one of the speakers during the Islamophobic rally held in Bugibba by the self-declared 'patriots' PN called on culture minister Owen Bonnici to publish the names of those involved in buying the Mattia Preti painting for €75,000 Opposition calls on minister to reveal who was behind €75,000 purchase of Mattia Preti painting JEANELLE MIFSUD THE Opposition called on culture minister Owen Bonnici to release the name of the person responsible for the purchase of a Mattia Preti painting, after doubts were raised on its originality. The Opposition also said that the ministry should released the name of the person who settled on the price. "In light of the controversy sur- rounding the painting described by Heritage Malta as a Mattia Preti painting, the public has the right to know exactly what happened and how the decisions to buy the paint- ing were taken," the Nationalist party said in a media statement. It also demanded the immedi- ate publication of Heritage Malta's policy regarding the acquisition of national collection pieces, the proce- dure on the purchas of cultural prop- erty from March 2014 until now, and a market estimate of art purchased from March 2013 until now and the amount of money spent for each ob- ject purchased in this period. The controversy over the purchase of painting erupted following online comments made by academic Keith Sciberras. Whilst Bonnici had trumpeted the acquisition as "a unique painting by Mattia Preti", Sciberras, head of the department of History of Art at the University of Malta, argued that the painting was a replica from the mas- ter's workshop. "Just to clarify that Mattia Preti's autograph original of the 'Apelles painting Campaspe in front of Alex- ander the Great' is in a private collec- tion in Spain," Sciberras wrote. Former PBS Head of News wins and loses in MaltaToday libel cases MAT THEW AGIUS Y ESTERDAY was something of a mixed bag for the former Pub- lic Broadcasting Services Head of News Natalino Fenech, after a court decided two libel claims that he had filed against this newspaper, rejecting one but upholding the other. Fenech had filed the first law- suit against MaltaToday's man- aging editor Saviour Balzan over an article he published in 2008, entitled 'Gonzi 's new way of doing politics at MEPA.' In the article, Balzan had re- marked that PBS's announc- ment that Joseph Muscat would not be contesting the Labour leadership battle was "a big fat lie." It said that Muscat had, in fact sent a statement to that ef- fect to Fenech, who at the time was heading the national broad- caster's news section. Magistrate Francesco Depas- quale heard how other offend- ing passages included descrip- tions of Fenech as "someone who does not like Labour but he is also someone who specialises in spin," a proponent of George Abela for the part y leadership, the author of a "funny book about hunting that was full of inaccuracies and massive exag- gerations" and as having alleg- edly prompted a journalist to ask Balzan whether he had ever eaten game in France. The court noted that Muscat had issued a statement deny- ing he had announced his with- drawal from the leadership race less than an hour after PBS had broadcast the claim on the 8pm news. It also noted that Fenech had published a book critical of bird-hunting in Malta in 1992. Ornithological Societ y Sec- retary Joe Sultana had testified that "the statistics provided by the plaintiff ...the figures were somewhat exaggerated and in- correct," due to the methodol- ogy he had adopted. In dismissing the libel case, court observed that the nation- al broadcaster had been used to transmit a false message to the viewing public. "This fact in and of itself is sufficient grounds for criticism, if neces- sary harsh criticism, because the news should always be true and correct and based on facts that are substantially correct." But in the second libel case, filed by Fenech in 2013 against Balzan and online editor Mat- thew Vella, the court held that an article reporting that a de- cision to replace Fenech with Reno Bugeja as head of news, in the former's absence had arrived at the incorrect conclusion. From the evidence, the court held that it was clear that the author of the article had been informed of an email sent shortly before and, seeing the phrase 'it has been decided in your absence,' had concluded that Fenech had abandoned his workplace, without attempting to confirm this with him. Magistrate Depasquale point- ed out that it was the obligation of the journalist to investigate stories thoroughly before pub- lishing them, awarding the plaintiff €2000 in damages. In a reaction to the judgement, MaltaToday's managing edi- tor Saviour Balzan, said he was looking at the possibilit y of fil- ing an appeal.