Backlash followed this court decision with MPs like Rosianne Cutajar and Ramona Attard, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality Rebecca Buttigieg, former tourism minister Clayton Bartolo, PL MEP Daniel Attard and pro-life advocate Peppi Azzopardi slamming the criminalisation of a woman who had a medical abortion.

Engerer called out the politicians – Ramona Attard, Buttigieg and Bartolo – for protesting this decision yet voting in favour of sending women who have abortions to prison (as well as doctors who provide them) for up to three years in 2023.

“Those MPs crying foul over yesterday’s sentence where a 28-year old woman was given a suspended jail term for having an abortion should not have fucked up the chance they had when legislating a couple of years ago,” Engerer wrote.

“Yesterday’s sentence will unfortunately leave a chilling effect on other women who might need help from medical professionals. Rather than having crocodile tears now, go to parliament and legislate before anyone dies.”

Back in 2023, Malta’s Parliament unanimously voted in favour of a bill that criminalises abortion in all cases, except for when the pregnant person’s life is at risk. In these scenarios, three specialists must agree that the person’s condition is critical.

Initially, the bill was more lenient, with clauses that attempted to relax Malta’s stringent abortion ban. However, controversy and criticism led to amendments that made the law arguably stricter than it was before.

When push came to shove, many of the MPs who criticised the sentence, voted in favour of the law that allows it.

It must be noted that Rosianne Cutajar was an independent MP during that time and did not participate in the vote. Following the outcome, she released a statement criticising the amendments and saying they make “life even more complicated for vulnerable women”.

Every MP has the power to propose a bill in parliament and it stands to be seen whether those criticising the criminal sentence will take tangible action against it.