Malta’s specialised hate-speech unit will be up and running in the coming weeks, just as questions surrounding corrosive discourse reach the mainstream after the Ħal Far riots.

Following the riots which saw cars set ablaze and the premises ransacked, social media was awash with death threats against migrants, with some people even saying they should be shot at, burned or gassed.

16 employees will head the unit, which authorities hope will look to raise awareness, but will also focus on helping victims of hate crimes.

Speaking at an inauguration of the Valletta premises, Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia said that reality was that the majority of victims of hate crimes were Maltese, and not migrants.

According to official figures, there have been 21 hate crimes during the first eight months of 2019.  Up until last year, Malta was one of five EU countries that did not collect any data on hate crimes, which was subject to criticism to EU authorities.

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