LGBTIQ+ Coalition Questions Why EuroPride Attack Was Not Prosecuted As A Hate Crime

LGBTI+ Gozo and several members of Malta’s LGBTIQ+ Coalition have welcomed a recent court ruling relating to an attack that took place following EuroPride celebrations in Gozo three years ago, while raising concerns over how the case was handled by authorities.

The case involved a group of LGBTIQ+ individuals who were threatened after entering a bar, with one person allegedly assaulted. According to the organisations, the court found that the attack was motivated by hatred towards the victim’s perceived sexual orientation.

In a joint statement, the groups described the ruling as an important step towards justice and noted that it marks the second case linked to Gozo Pride celebrations to result in a court decision in favour of the victim.

However, they criticised the fact that the case was not originally prosecuted as a hate crime, despite what they described as clear indications that the attack was motivated by anti-LGBTIQ+ prejudice.

The organisations questioned why the police did not pursue hate crime charges and called for greater transparency and accountability in how such incidents are investigated and prosecuted.

They argued that the court’s findings confirmed that the aggression would not have occurred had the victim not been perceived as LGBTIQ+, yet the accused was ultimately found guilty of causing bodily harm, making threats and breaching the peace, resulting in a €1,000 fine.

The coalition said the outcome raises questions about how effectively Malta’s hate crime legislation is being implemented in practice, despite the country’s reputation for strong LGBTIQ+ legal protections.

“This attack happened because of hatred,” the statement said, arguing that the circumstances met the criteria for hate crime charges under Maltese law.

The groups also urged the authorities to ensure that hate crime provisions within the Criminal Code are applied consistently during the charging process and stressed the importance of victims having confidence that such crimes will be prosecuted fully.

The statement was endorsed by a number of organisations, including LGBTI+ Gozo, Allied Rainbow Communities (ARC), aditus Foundation, Checkpoint Malta, Drachma LGBTI+, Drachma Parents Group and the Malta Gay Rights Movement.

What do you make of the points made?

READ NEXT: World's Famous 'DJ Priest' Padre Guilherme To Perform In Malta For The First Time

Gabriel Falzon

Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.