A coalition of 23 civil society organisations and individuals has welcomed the sentencing of Lorin Scicluna for racially motivated violence against May Malimi, but expressed serious reservations over the outcome of the case, accusing Malta's prosecution of failing to deliver justice and calling for accountability over mistakes made by the Office of the Attorney General.
In a joint statement, the signatories welcomed the sentence handed down to Scicluna and commended the judge's condemnation of racially motivated violence but said that much more had been expected following the events of 6 April 2019.
"We welcome today's sentencing of Lorin Scicluna for his racist violence against May Malimi. In particular, we commend the judge's condemnation of such racially-motivated actions. Yet so much more was expected by a nation, by communities shocked at the brutal events of 6 April 2019," the statement said.
The organisations said Scicluna's "meticulous planning of that night's man-hunt" would go unpunished, arguing that the outcome demonstrated the urgent need for reform within Malta's prosecution services.
They said it had taken seven years for Malta to formally condemn Scicluna's actions, despite the seriousness of the violence involved and the fear it had caused among communities.
"It took Malta seven long years to tell Lorin Scicluna that his actions were unacceptable in a country that upholds the value of human dignity. We hoped for a trial that would lead to his unequivocal conviction, for a far stronger condemnation of such heinous acts of hatred and violence," the statement said.
The signatories were particularly critical of the Office of the Attorney General, arguing that the severity of the crimes and their impact on affected communities warranted the dedication of the prosecution's full resources to the case.
Attorney General's sentencing error 'nothing less than shameful' - civil society groups
They described an error by the Attorney General's office in calculating the possible sentence as "nothing less than shameful," claiming that it had resulted in a lesser punishment for Scicluna.
"The Attorney General's mistake in computation of possible sentencing is nothing less than shameful. It results in a lesser punishment for a dangerous man like Lorin Scicluna. It also requires us to question the capacity of the Attorney General's office to tackle such significant cases. Who will be held accountable for this injustice?" the statement said.
The organisations also raised concerns about the wider implications of the case for the safety of Black people living in Malta, referring to questions raised on 2 November by Regine Nguini of the African Media Association Malta.
"Yet the killing of Lassana Cisse remains a reminder of how vulnerable we can be when racial hatred turns into violence. Who protects the Black worker returning home after a late shift? The Black student walking alone at night? The Black woman waiting at a bus stop? The Black child growing up in a country that is also their home?" Nguini had said.
The signatories described the sentencing as a bitter moment for those who valued justice and human dignity, arguing that the prosecution and judicial system had only managed to secure partial justice.
They also maintained that the case needed to be considered within a broader context of what they described as institutionalised racism and the continued dehumanisation of migrants and refugees.
"Today remains a bitter moment for those in Malta who value justice and human dignity. We must accept that Malta's flawed prosecution and judicial system was only able to secure partial justice. We must also accept that all this happened within a far bigger picture tainted with institutionalised racism, and constant dehumanisation of migrants and refugees," the statement said.
The organisations called on the public to reflect on the significance of the sentencing for Lassana Cisse, May Malimi, Ibrahim and Muhammad, while urging the authorities to examine whether the State was doing enough to protect everyone living in Malta.
"We strongly urge the authorities to honestly question the State's willingness and ability to truly protect all persons living in Malta," the statement concluded.
The statement was endorsed by Aditus foundation, African Media Association Malta, Professor Maria Pisani from the University of Malta's Department of Youth, Community and Migration Studies, Men Against Violence, Blue Door Education, Drachma, Paulo Freire Institute Foundation, PEN Malta, Migrant Women Association Malta, Spark 15, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Allied Rainbow Communities, Dance Beyond Borders Foundation, Women's Rights Foundation, LGBTI Gozo, Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM), Association for Justice, Equality and Peace, Moviment Graffitti, JRS Malta, Professor Andrew Azzopardi from the University of Malta, Checkpoint Malta, Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ (KNŻ) and Repubblika.