Court clears priest of hate speech charges

𝐇𝐞𝐦𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐚 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢 𝐛𝐞𝐣𝐧 ‘𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐢 𝐦𝐚 𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐠ħ𝐨ġ𝐨𝐛𝐱’ 𝐮 ‘𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡’.

Whether or not you agree with our client's opinion, the question regarding whether or not it can be legally classified as hate speech is a completely different matter. Needless to say, his comments were maliciously taken completely out of context in order to place him in a bad light. He was tried and convicted in the 'court of public opinion' (well, you know Malta), but acquitted on both counts in a court of law. Both my esteemed and brilliant colleague, Dr. Mariah Mula, and myself worked very hard on this case, believing at the outset that the charges brought against Fr. David Muscat were unfounded and untenable at law. People followed this case from abroad, stating that a guilty verdict may very well have drastic implications for others in similar circumstances. Justice was served.

LexVirtualis would also like to thank the following people for their invaluable assistance: Fr. Stefan Attard, Prof. Simon Mercieca, Mr. Simon de Bono, Mr. Ranier Fsadni, and last but not least Judge Giovanni Bonello.