Ivan Grech Mintoff, the leader of Alleanza Bidla, has become the latest target of the far-right group Moviment Patrijotti Maltin. It appears that the vicious attacks posted online and in private conversations between members of the so-called patriots and Grech Mintoff started after Alleanza Bidla expressed its support for the government for refusing landing permission to a ship operating in the Mediterranean with the sole purpose of keeping migrants from crossing into Europe. Grech Mintoff had also condemned the 'patriots' stunt to provide the ship's crew with supplies.
Soon after the government's decision not to let the anti-migrant ship land, Alleanza Bidla issued a press release supporting the government's ban on C-Star, a ship operated by a group called Defend Europe. The European Parliament had described C-Star as the 'ship of hate' and its mission caused some controversy. The Nationalist Party and a number of NGOs had also supported the government in its decision.
"Alleanza Bidla condemns the far right and racist stance, which this ship represents, as well as the indifference to the plight of genuine refugees risking their lives to seek a better future," Grech Mintoff's party wrote.
The same statement also condemned Moviment Patrijotti Maltin for providing supplies to the crew of the ship. "Such action shows that MPM supports racist, violent and dangerous extreme right causes instead of the Christianity to which they profess to adhere."
This particular section of the press statement did not go down well with members of the so-called patriots.
"A Muslim lover and traitor to your Maltese brother", a certain Fatima Hassanin told him on Facebook. "Nothing but a piece of trash and a pervert" and "to call him human is too much. He's a disgusting being," she added.
Another prominent member of Movement Patrijotti Maltin, Stephen Florian, accused Grech Mintoff of being "bribed and bought". This is not the first time that Florian has attacked those who opposed the radical views of the 'patriots' on migration, nor is it the first time that politicians or church representatives have been taken to task by the party's members.
The last time Stephen Florian decided to lash out at pro-immigration or anti-racism supporters, it cost him his part-time job at the University of Malta. It was this newspaper that revealed the illegality of Florian's attack on a pro-immigration activist who happened to be a transgender person.
The Malta Independent on Sunday had revealed that Florian could face prosecution after singling out Alex Caruana, a transgender man who was one of three counter protesters against the 'patriots' who organised a protest walk in Qawra.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Civil Liberties had cited Article 11 (1) of the Gender Identity law which stipulates: "Whosoever shall knowingly expose any person who has availed of the provisions of this Act, or shall insult or revile a person, shall upon conviction be liable to a fine of not less than one thousand euro (€1,000) and not exceeding five thousand euro (€5,000)."
C-Star's presence just outside Maltese waters stirred up controversy, especially due to the recent events unfolding in the Mediterranean. A few weeks ago, the Maltese authorities had to face another migrant-related issue due to the presence of a search and rescue ship carrying migrants that ended up stranded between Malta and Sicily due to a diplomatic tug-of-war. The ship, the Golfo Azzurro, ended up disembarking in Sicily and the Libyan migrants were transported safely to shore.
But the patriots took advantage of the more recent C-Star issue and saw a PR stunt potential. So ring-leader Henry Battistino, the same man who recently went to personally remove an advertisement portraying Christ eating pizza and fries, decided to help provide the 'ship of hate' crew with supplies, ignoring the government's entry ban.
Grech Mintoff decided to take the matter to the police and has filed a report claiming that he had been subjected to insults and threats. The authorities are carrying out an investigation.