Repubblika’s president Robert Aquilina has asked for police protection again after risks to him and his family’s safety mounted in the last five months.

In a letter by lawyer Theresa Cachia Comodini to Police Commissioner Gafa’, she details a series of attacks on Aquilina, including attempting break-ins into his family home, threats from a Libyan who said he was out to get him, and evidence of stalking by people “close to the network of politicians of whom he is critical in his activism.”

Aquilina has been requesting police protection since at least April 2023, providing evidence to police that indicates he and his family may be in danger. However, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

“These real and actual threats of a likely attempted forced entry into his home, surveillance by persons with security training, and instructions to harass him given by persons close to the Commissioner cannot but be considered real and sufficient for him and his family to receive protection,” the letter warned.

The letter also pointed to a recent attack on Aquilina by public figures, that has led to private persons taking it upon themselves to try silence the activist.

“The risks to him are no longer only from those who are instigated by disparaging and divisive public rhetoric uttered by politicians, such as that attack made by Prime Minister Robert Abela in parliament on the 23rd October 2023.”

On 23rd October, Prime Minister Robert Abela had less than glowing words for the activist.

“When [the Opposition] disagrees with judges’ rulings, they and the civil society led by the brother of the man sitting in front of me, destroy these judges, humiliate them and use all forms of intimidation against them,” Abela said.

“That way, next time they will judge in their favour just to ensure they aren’t subjected to such vicious criticism.”

Aquilina, who is the brother of PN MP Karol Aquilina, clearly got the reference.
“The Prime Minister has just attacked me and Repubblika in Parliament,” Karol Aquilina said.

This public rhetoric, the letter stated, has already led to private persons taking it upon themselves to threaten Aquilina, including to obtain information on his family members.

“For example, a judgment finding one such person guilty of threatening Dr Aquilina involved evidence showing the perpetrator gathered information about Dr Aquilina and his family, including their whereabouts, by following them on various occasions in churches,” it read.

“But the risks now appear to be of a more serious nature.”

Lawyer Cachia Comodini warned that the police have failed to identify and act upon the risks, amounting to a “massive” failure to protect his right to speak without fear.

Read the full letter here. 

What do you make of the letter?