The prosecution of the El Hiblu 3 is unjust, Moviment Graffitti said, as it again called on Malta’s Attorney General to demand an end to this injustice and to dismiss all the charges. 

Four and a half years ago, Abdalla, Amara, and Kader arrived in Malta, after acting as mediators and translators on the El Hiblu 1. At the time they were only 15, 16, and 19 years old respectively, diffusing a dangerous and tense situation at sea. 

Instead of celebrating the courage of these youngsters, the Maltese authorities charged them unfairly, the NGO said. These young men have had to endure ongoing delays and dehumanising restrictions, preventing them from leading a normal life. On November 8 the bill of indictment and respective charges against the El Hiblu 3 were issued. These charges are inhumane and unjust, the NGO said. 

National and international support to dismiss the charges is overwhelming and growing.  In total, over a 1,000 individuals and organisations have signed our open letter since we delivered it to the Attorney General in September. The letter has received support from a wide range of organisations in Malta and internationally, including Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE).

The public has been urging for a resolution by the Attorney General’s office for years now but has been met with no action or response. Here we call again on the Attorney General to end this injustice. It is high time to dismiss the charges. This morning, Graffittii said that the public again showed solidarity with the El Hiblu 3 in a symbolic action in front of the law courts.

Together, we stand in solidarity with the El Hiblu 3 against oppression and injustice! Free the El Hiblu 3