A petition calling for the return of a Maltese singer banned from participating in the Malta Eurovision 2023 Contest has garnered over 1,000 signatures.

“Aidan, a local singer-songwriter, was disqualified from Malta Eurovision 2023, and his disqualification was announced without providing the necessary details in a timely manner by the national broadcaster, PBS, to generate clickbait. The unnecessary delay between the announcement and the (vague) clarification did not only put Aidan’s career, reputation and mental health in jeopardy but also challenged the integrity of the competition,” the petition strongly begins.

The petition, started by Christopher Pace, has 1,032 signatures at time of publishing, and is dedicated to the Maltese singer, praising him and standing up for him after the national disqualification.

“We, the supporters of Aidan, believe that the disqualification is unjustified and that the artist deserves a fair and transparent evaluation process. We also believe that PBS’s regulations are rigid and restrictive, as they prevent local artists from promoting their art freely and without fear of being persecuted,” the petition continued.