Alex Caruana, who was one of the three people participating in a counter protest against the so called Maltese Patriots, has become the latest target for the far-right group, led by their ring leader Henry Battistino.
Last Sunday, Patrijotti Maltin organised a protest March against the setting up of Mosques and to express what they described as 'solidarity' with the people of Qawra and Bugibba. Alex Caruana, a transgender person, together with two other counter protestors went to the event carrying placards preaching 'Love is the answer' and called on the Maltese to practice freedom of religion. Little did he know that this gesture would lead him to be targetted by very disturbing comments by Patrijotti Maltin supporters, which include pictures of ISIS members throwing homosexuals off a building.
"Every time I disagree with them, they fall back to the argument that I'm trans. It is as if one does not fall under their category - white, Maltese and Christian - you don't have the right to speak," Alex said in comments to The Malta Independent.
What is even more troubling is that one particular man, who confronted Alex and his fellow protestors, was a certain Stephen Florian, who is a lecturer at the University of Malta.
"Mr Florian has already publicly stated that he wants to raise the right wing and he also claimed I was paid to go protest," Mr Caruana said.
Asked if these bullying tactics affected him personally, Alex Caruana said this would have affected him a year ago, when he was in his early stages his transition. But he has now grown immune to such offences.
"I am strong now. But I might not have been able to be so resistant a year ago. Transsexuality is a challenging thing and there are others who are still transitioning who are still weak. It is for them I am worried," Mr Caruana said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika Arnold Cassola described these offences as shameless spread of hatred. "Very worrying for the future of the country when coming from someone who has had a sound cultural and educational formation," he said in a Facebook post.
An educator should not instigate hatred against other cultures - Evarist Bartolo
Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo also took to Facebook to condemn the attack by the so called 'patriots' against Alex Caruana.
"These attacks are absolutely unacceptable, all of this because this student decided to favour respect towards other cultures and religions."
He also added that the work of an educator is to civilize, not instigate hatred for other races.