The Constitutional Court has ruled that the nine Malian migrants who were being held in detention until recently can continue to have their case heard before the courts.

The migrants are facing repatriation.

Madam Justice Lorraine Schembri Orland, presiding the First Hall of the Civil Court in its Constitutional jurisdiction recently delivered a ruling, and ordered the case to continue being heard, noting that the applicants (the migrants) did not have any other remedy at law available for their claims relating to their rights being breached.

The nine Malian migrants arrived in Malta between 2008 and 2015, and declared that they were taken to a detention centre upon arrival.  They said that a return order was given soon after their arrival, and was only appealable within three days from its issuing, and that this decision was taken before they applied for refugee status with the Refugee Commissioner.

The main complaint which was filed by the Malians, the court noted, was that they were detained through the same removal order that was issued when they first arrived on the islands, even though their situation might have changed over the years. The migrants also raised issues relating to their lack of access to legal assistance, recognition of rights and detention.