The Muslim Community yesterday said Friday prayers at a new premises in Floriana, which was designated by the government following the closure of two unauthorised premises in St Paul’s Bay and Sliema.

The issue came to a head when Muslims took to the open space just outside the Msida Church, which angered some sectors of Maltese society. The matter was blown all out of proportion by some, including the Front Patriotti Maltin, who decided to hold a rally. Of course, we have heard about the infamous pork sandwiches and the assaults on journalists who were present to cover the news event.

But the issue remained, where were Muslims going to pray? It is obviously impractical for them to do it outdoors, for starters. But should they really be praying right outside a Catholic Church? The leaders said that the Church had nothing to do with the issue. Whatever the case may be, it was an ill judged move, and if a statement was to be made, it should have been made on political ‘ground’. After all, if it was a political solution they required, then they should have gone down that avenue. It was obvious that there would be a backlash.

Equally, we deplore the antics of the crowd that gathered in retaliation a couple of days later. The behaviour of the crowd was not something that reflects a progressive and multicultural democracy. People have the right to protest, but this went beyond a protest, it was a two fingered salute. And that, can never be commended.

And so, in the face of all the hullaballoo, the government identified a place of worship which suits the needs of the Muslim community who cannot make it to the Mosque in Paola as it is too far away.

But it also served the needs of the Maltese people; the Ospizio site, is, ‘out of sight and out of mind’. However, the most important issue at stake here is transparency. Not about sites and deals, but about what is preached.

Last year, a government spokesman had told this newspaper that the authorities wanted to find a place for ‘licenced’ worship because, among many other reasons, it would be easier to monitor what was being preached in an official place of worship, rather than a makeshift one.

You do not have to read between the lines to understand what that means. It means that the government wants transparency so it can make sure that there is no hate preaching in Malta. We are not, for one minute, suggesting that hate preachers have tried to spread some awful message. Far from it. But what we do agree with is the government’s stance that it would be much easier to preach hate undetected in a makeshift Mosque, than a licenced and above board place of worship.