Watch: ‘We’re Better Than That’ – Robert Abela Condemns ‘Disgusting’ Down Syndrome Meme But Admits €10,000 Fine Was ‘On The Higher End’
Prime Minister Robert Abela wasn’t mincing his words when it came to a recent controversial case which saw a hefty €10,000 fine being given to a 29-year-old man who posted an offensive meme targeting individual with Down Syndrome.
“If you ask me about his behaviour, I’d say it was disgusting,” Abela said, answering questions by Lovin Malta during a press conference announcing Malta’s new airline. “It is something I completely condemn and disassociate myself with.”
“If you ask me, however, if the fine is calibrated with the crime which was committed, on a personal level, I believe the fine of €10,000 could be on the higher end of the parameters of what one might expect when talking about this sort of illegal behaviour,” Abela continued.
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“But to me, it’s completely unacceptable for me to have someone pass a comment like that,” the prime minister reiterated. “Come on, we’re better than that. We don’t have to stoop to such levels and to try in any way to ridicule people who I hold so dear to my heart.”
Last week, it was revealed that 29-year-old deliveryman Luke Mihalic was found guilty of misusing computer and telecommunications equipment when he shared the controversial meme in April 2020 within the Facebook group ‘Uncensored Jokes Malta’.The meme featured an image of an unidentified person with Down’s Syndrome, accompanied by a caption that read: “Website is Down” “Oooh, me too!” Mihalic was cleared of a hate crime charge because at the time of the meme upload, it wasn’t yet considered an offence.
The meme sparked outrage and was reported to the police by Oliver Scicluna, the former Commissioner for Persons with Disability, after people who found it offensive reached out to him.
Vowing to appeal the verdict, Mihalic ended up receiving a wave of support in light of the hefty fine, with popular comedian Malcolm Gauci being among those who made it clear that, while he found the joke in bad taste and offensive, the court case was a step too far and an act of censorship. Meanwhile, Mark Anthony Sammut became the first MP to take a stand against the fine over the weekend, saying the whole thing was as worrying as the Gordon Manché debacle.”
What do you make of Abela’s comments?
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