El Hiblu 3 charges ‘devaluing’ anti-terrorism laws – Repubblika

Abdallah Bari, Amara Kromah and Abdul Kader were only facing life in prison because they were “guilty of knowing English”, the NGO said.

Repubblika reiterated its solidarity with the three young men, saying the behaviour of the Maltese authorities brought shame on all of us.

“The accusations of terrorism, illegal arrest, and violent acts are ridiculous and certainly do not apply to the circumstances of the El Hiblu incident”, Repubblika said.

“With the mere fact that it is using these laws against these three people, the state is devaluing the seriousness of these laws.”

Malta was looking to set a criminal example with a symbolic punishment to collectively condemn everyone who tries to seek a better life for themselves, the group said, adding that this was “an act of prejudice, racial discrimination, and an abusive and inhumane use of the law”.

Repubblika said it hopes that the courts will recognise the “great injustice”, clear the men from the charges, and “condemn the state for this cruelty”.

Earlier on Thursday, we reported that the Attorney General had issued a bill of indictment against the ‘El Hiblu 3’, retaining the controversial initial charges – including terrorism.