Police ‘Use Rape Excuse’ For Taking Down Details Of Castille Protestors
Photo: Reuters/ Darrin Zammit Lupi
Three female activists had their personal details taken down by the police during an action in Castille Square yesterday, with the “excuse” being that they were safeguarding them in case they got raped.
The three activists, from pressure group Il-Kenniesa, convened in Castille to erect cardboard cutouts of Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri in prison jumpsuits and handcuffs and of a half-naked Economy Minister Chris Cardona.
However, a policeman who was on guard outside Castille started taking photos of the activists and physically blocked the camera of Reuters photographer Darrin Zammit Lupi, who had accompanied them.
Il-Kenniesa later identified the policeman in question as Joseph Mangion, a man who journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia – who was assassinated last year – had once flagged for posing for a photo with Konrad Mizzi.
Four other policemen were called on site and, while they didn’t take any action against the activists, they did ask them for their details – a request the activists complied to but questioned.
According to both the activists and Zammit Lupi, the response of one of the police officers was that they needed their details to protect them “just in case something happens, such as if someone had to rape you”.
Questions sent by Lovin Malta to the police about this incident remain unanswered as of the time of writing.
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