Rock legend Bryan May’s appeal for Maltese people to back an anti bird hunting referendum has drawn the ire of the Malta Tourism Authority’s chairman, and in turn, an expected backlash from the hunting lobbies.

Gavin Gulia took to Facebook to write that although he is no hunter and has never lifted a shotgun, he said he respected the rights of minorities, including hunters and trappers.

“Brian May came here to sing (sic) and not to make an appeal against hunting. I think he made a mistake and allowed himself to be influenced by others,” Dr Gulia wrote.

How very, very wrong Dr Gulia is. Freedom of speech is safeguarded by the European Convention of Human Rights, and as a lawyer, Dr Gulia should know this and respect it.

Mr May did what hundreds of celebrities do around the world, in using an event to put forward his view on a cause – that cause happened to be the protection of migrating birds. Telling a legendary rock star to stick to musical performances, is quite frankly a throwback to an age where people were persecuted for speaking their mind.

We cannot, in any way, form or manner, condone what the MTA chairman has publicly said. Mr May is not some crackpot jaded rock star. He is a seasoned animal rights campaigner and he did not limit himself to spring hunting – he also used his stage time to give information about the plight of lions in Africa and badgers in the UK.

Some have said that there is more to it than meets the eye, with stories having surfaced about deer being shot on his land. Mr May says this is part of a smear campaign. Irrespective of what the intricacies of all this are, the fundamental principle is that if someone is not preaching hate, or breaking any laws, then no one has the right to try and gag them.

As matters stand, Mr May probably has it right, in saying that the Labour Government is trying to sidestep the issue and let matters be decided through a referendum, through signatures collected from the general public. In that way, it will avoid stepping on the hunting lobby’s toes. The electorate would decide matters for themselves, and not as many votes would be lost. The situation was exactly the same with the previous government which was absolutely impotent on the matter.

We are confident that this government respects the right to freedom of expression, and this is why it should be having a few words with MTA’s CEO. His position is there to help attract tourists to Malta, saying things that would do the exact opposite are not exactly conducive to doing that.