Malta: Grant full protection to writer and activist Robert Aquilina
Credit: Repubblika
03 November – PEN International, PEN Malta and Scottish PEN call on the Maltese authorities to urgently consider the application for police protection of writer and activist Robert Aquilina, amidst mounting threats against him and his family. His requests for protection, last renewed on 28 October 2023, have yet to be addressed, raising fears for his safety. PEN International, PEN Malta and Scottish PEN further urge the Maltese authorities to prevent and protect against threats and violence against journalists, human rights defenders, and activists.
On 28 October 2023, Robert Aquilina, President of the NGO Repubblika, renewed his application for police protection, detailing signs of an attempted forced entry into his family home, threats from an unknown individual seeking ‘to get to him’, and evidence of stalking by people ‘close to the network of politicians of whom he is critical in his activism.’ PEN International, PEN Malta and Scottish PEN promptly shared their support for Aquilina, who had yet to hear back from the police at the time of writing.
Already in April 2023, PEN International, PEN Malta and Scottish PEN – together with partner organisations – expressed their deep concern for Aquilina’s safety, urging the Maltese authorities to ensure that he and his family be urgently provided with full protection to safeguard them from all possible harm.
The Public Inquiry into the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia urges the Maltese authorities to strengthen the protection of journalists and freedom of expression in Malta. Yet as exemplified by Aquilina’s case, threats against journalists, writers, and activists continue unabated.
PEN International, PEN Malta and Scottish PEN stand with Robert Aquilina and urge the Maltese authorities to support his request for police protection. They must send a clear signal that threats and attacks against journalists, writers and activists will not be tolerated.
For further details contact Aurélia Dondo, Head of Europe and Central Asia Region at PEN International: Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org