The charges brought up against three young men are devaluing laws against terrorism, NGO Repubblika said in a statement.

It was referring to the issuing of issued a Bill of Indictment against Abdalla, Amara, and Kader, also known as the El Hiblu 3, which include charges of serious crimes which could carry life imprisonment.

Repubblika said that the only crime these three youngsters had was of knowing how to speak in English.

Accusations of terrorism, illegal arrest and violent acts are “ridiculous” and do not apply to the circumstances of the case. By using these laws in accusing the three youngsters, the Attorney General is devaluing them.

Worse than this, the State is denying these three people the right to live their life. Malta is punishing them and threatening them to lock them up for the rest of their life because “it wants to but cannot punish every migrant who arrives on our shores”.

Malta, Repubbika said, is trying to set an example with a symbolic punishment to collectively condemn anyone who seeks a better life.

This amount to prejudice and discrimination, and an abusive and inhuman use of the law, the NGO said.

This should shame us all, Repubblika said, hoping that the court of law will realise the injustice that these three young men are suffering.