Activists hailing from Moviment Graffitti are in Valletta this morning to march in solidarity with El Hiblu 3 and demand all charges be dropped.

This comes after a bill of indictment and respective charges against El Hiblu 3 were issued on 8th November, sparking outrage from many onlookers, both locally and beyond. 

“The prosecution of the El Hiblu 3 is unjust. Moviment Graffitti calls on Malta’s Attorney General to demand an end to this injustice and to dismiss all the charges,” Moviment Graffitti said in a statement this morning as activists held up banners in front of Malta’s law courts.

Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer was among those holding up the banner calling for the three to be freed. 

“Four and a half years ago, Abdalla, Amara, and Kader arrived in Malta, after acting as mediators and translators on the El Hiblu 1. At the time they were only 15, 16, and 19 years old respectively, diffusing a dangerous and tense situation at sea,” it explained.

“Instead of celebrating the courage of these youngsters, the Maltese authorities charged them unfairly. These young men have had to endure ongoing delays and dehumanising restrictions, preventing them from leading a normal life.”

“On 8th November the bill of indictment and respective charges against the El Hiblu 3 were issued. These charges are inhumane and unjust.”

Meanwhile, local and even international support and calls to dismiss the charges are overwhelming and only increasing.

“In total, over a 1,000 individuals and organisations have signed our open letter since we delivered it to the Attorney General in September. The letter has received support from a wide range of organisations in Malta and internationally, including Amnesty International and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE).”

The public has been urging for a resolution by the Attorney General’s office for years now but has been met with no action or response.

“Here we call again on the Attorney General to end this injustice. It is high time to dismiss the charges. This morning, the public has shown solidarity with the El Hiblu 3 in a symbolic action in front of the law courts.”

“Together, we stand in solidarity with the El Hiblu 3 against oppression and injustice! Free the El Hiblu 3!”