Scottish PEN is extremely alarmed by recent events taking place in Malta. On Tuesday, 3 October, Robert Aquilina, the President of the anti-corruption NGO Repubblika, was abruptly called in for police questioning in relation to a press conference he gave the previous Friday, accusing the public broadcaster, PBS, of censorship.
Mr Aquilina was given no information about who filed the criminal complaint, what this report contained, or the allegations being made against him. Nevertheless, Mr Aquilina was questioned under caution only hours after he gave another press conference in front of parliament to announce the schedule of events marking the 6-year anniversary of the assassination of the Maltese writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist Daphne Caruana Galizia, unveiling a statue in her honour.
Scottish PEN expresses grave reservations about this apparent attack on democratic rights, civil liberties and freedom of expression. We shall be monitoring the situation closely and stand in solidarity with Robert Aquilina and all writers and activists who face threats while asserting their democratic rights.