The idea that a woman can be reported by a healthcare professional when she’s seeking help has sparked outrage among a number of personalities in Malta, including those who identify as pro-life – Peppi is one of them.

Peppi recently featured on the first episode of Hot Seat co-produced by Lovin Malta and FreeHour, he debated nine pro-choice youths and stood firmly in his pro-life beliefs. However, he did not shy away from fiercely criticising the suspended sentence handed to a woman who had an abortion, going as far as saying he’d protest if she ever ends up in prison.

Whether or not she faces 22-months in prison rests on her not committing another crime in the next two years.

While Peppi maintains that abortion is murder and should remain illegal, he explained that the punishment outlined in the law doesn’t fit the crime. Peppi is an avid critic of the prison and justice system. In most cases, he believes that people should be given help rather than punishment.

In the case of abortion, he stated that there should be a process, less harsh than the criminal courts and not necessarily involving court at all, which acknowledges that the woman “killed a person” but doesn’t result in stripping her of her liberties and treating her like a criminal.

Peppi then directed a message to all Labour Party members who are posting in outrage at the court’s decision: “If they were saying this honestly, I’d agree wholeheartedly, but this is hypocritical. They are doing this because they want to introduce abortion.”

“Where are these PL members statements addressing the fact that half of Malta’s prison inmates are victims of drugs? Are these people supposed to be in prison?”

“When women were being tortured in prison, where were these MPs?” Peppi continued, referring to the damning Ombudsman report released in January.

He said that these politicians are only using their platforms and speaking out to push their “agenda” to introduce abortion, not because they genuinely believe that these people don’t deserve to be in prison.

“If you want abortion, then just be honest about it.”

Peppi concluded by urging policy makers to remove the obligation – if there is one – for doctors to report women who have abortions.

This is one of many public reactions condemning the court’s decision based on Malta’s abortion law amended in 2023.

Doctors for Choice highlighted that this sentence will deter women from seeking medical help after having an abortion – this can be fatal.

Members of Parliament also called out this decision, despite unanimously voting in favour of a prison sentence of up to three years for women who have abortions and doctors who provide them.