We the undersigned authors would like to express our regrets about and lack of agreement with the institutionalised curbing of free expression in our country.
As authors we cannot accept the implications that some power takes it upon itself to filter and decide on what can or cannot be read. In European Malta of the 21st century, expression should be free. Acts of censorship cast serious doubts on the respect of the fundamental rights and freedoms safeguarded by the Constitution.
Here we are underlining the important roles played by writers in all societies. We insist on the need that urgent problems like freedom of expression and the status of artists in our country be put at the forefront of the national agenda; that antiquated laws that can in some way hinder this freedom, be emended with immediate effect; and any prosecution by the police related to these antiqueated laws be stopped, also with immediate effect.
We do not object to a classification system intended as a guide for the people about levels of adult content in the different arts, but we object with all possible might to that censorship that insults the intelligence and the freedom of the Maltese people.
John Aquilina
Clare Azzopardi
Mario Azzopardi
Simon Bartolo
Norbert Bugeja
Mark Camilleri
Charles Casha
Antoine Cassar
Charles Coleiro
Noel Fabri
Lino Farrugia
Charles Flores
Francis Galea
Sergio Grech
Maria Grech Ganado
Adrian Grima
Simone Inguanez
Gorg Peresso
Ray Mahoney
Gorg Mallia
Albert Marshall
Immanuel Mifsud
Kevin Saliba
Andrew Sciberras
Karl Schembri
Loranne Vella
Vince Vella
Alex Vella Gera
Trevor zahra
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