Camilleri’s public intervention comes after River of Love’s infamous pastor Gordon Manché has filed yet another police report, this time against Malta’s national theatre’s artistic director Sean Buhagiar, who defended two comedians slapped with the same fate for their satire and jokes against the pastor.

And it wasn’t just him – Arts Minister Owen Bonnici also stepped in, saying it was “absolutely not acceptable that we allow those who abuse the law to attempt to stifle artists”.

On Thursday, Sean Buhagiar called Gordon Manché an “asshole” on social media, while defending satirist Matt Bonnano and comedian Daniel Xuereb, who were both questioned by police due to their comedic material about the pastor.

In January, Matt Bonnano was famously charged over his “carpet bomb” joke. Earlier this week, Lovin Malta revealed that Xuereb was summoned on charges for insulting Manché and misusing electronic equipment to share “threats” in a comedy sketch posted in March.

“It is high time we try put an end to this unjust stifling of satire. Gordon John Manche has now become a real menace to cherished principles of free speech and satirical expression in our community,” Buhagiar wrote.

“Could we stand up and fight back? with satire? Imagine if every comedian, artist, writer, and creative practitioner called him ‘Malta’s biggest asshole’ and humorously suggested to whimsically ‘relocate River of Love to Buġibba, then carpet bomb. Two birds with one stone’ — just like the comments that prompted him to take legal action against Daniel Xuereb and Matt Bonanno? A collective response could create a tidal wave of satire. Then what? Take everyone to court?”

“Gordon-John Maché, also known as Malta’s biggest asshole, kindly refrain from interfering with satire, or we may be compelled to relocate the River of Love to Bugibba and carpet bomb!” he finished.

Do you think Malta’s freedom of speech laws need to be revisited?