What a memorable evening this was! None of us will forget the inspirational words of Amara Kromah reminding us of the critical value of #HumanRights and the importance of solidarity So very proud to be part of this Coalition! Coalition for the El Hiblu 3

Antoine Cassar, author of the poem ‘Passport’ says: “A passport-selling nation criminalises anyone who dares to 'challenge' privilege of movement. … Abdalla, Amara and Kader have been unfairly punished and terrorised. Their courage, resistance and patience are to be celebrated.”

Christine Cassar of Moviment Graffitti: “Any human has the fundamental right to seek protection in a safe place. There is still time for the Maltese authorities to drop the charges. Again, we state: these three young men - Abdalla, Amara and Kader - are heroes.”

The poet Gabriel Schembri reads his poem 'Il-Ballata tal-El Hiblu Tlieta' with Franscesco Frendo. An excerpt in English:

'Attorney General,
In your hands is the life of the three.
Go now, drop the charges.
And set our friends free.'

President Emeritus of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca says: “Thank you, Abdalla, Amara & Kader for being such a huge inspiration. For your resilience, your bravery, your courage. I, we, will stand by you until justice prevails and you are free. This is what I promise. I will be there.”

Amara continues: “I accept this award not only on my behalf but also on behalf of all who continue to fight for human rights around the world. Let us seize this moment as a reminder of the power of collective action & the possibility of a brighter future for generations to come.”

In my life, moving across borders has been a pretty simple exercise. Others have lost their lives trying. Again others face severe punishment for surviving. Though rarely reported on, thousands of people 'who have moved' are locked into European prisons.

Jesuit Refugee Service Malta JRS International Centro Astalli PRO ASYL Karl Kopp African Media Association Malta Regine Nguini Coalition for the El Hiblu 3 Sea-Watch Sea-Watch International Sea-Watch Italy Moviment Graffitti Interviene David Yambio Refugees In Libya: 'Oggi non posso che lodare il loro coraggio. Senza il loro intervento per impedire un respingimento in #Libia , avrebbero potuto far parte delle migliaia di morti invisibili e delle vittime di tortura nei campi di concentramento libici'.

Aprono l'evento Cetta Mainwaring e Daniela DeBono di Coalition for the El Hiblu 3: 'Abdalla, Amara e Kader hanno aiutato a salvare più di 100 persone dalla deportazione in Libia.
Non sono stati accolti sulle nostre isole come eroi, ma ingiustamente imprigionati'.

The Human Rights Defenders ceremony in #Malta is starting!

Cetta Mainwaring & Daniela DeBono of Coalition for the El Hiblu 3 open the event: “Abdalla, Amara & Kader helped save over 100 people from a #pushback to Libya. They were not greeted on our islands as heroes but wrongfully imprisoned.”

“We have violated, in the most appalling way, children’s human rights.”

“Is it a crime to communicate in more than one language? Is it a crime to mediate to calm and restore some peace?”

Former 🇲🇹 President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

#Freethe3
#DroptheCharges

timesofmalta.com/article/former…

Today we met in Valletta to denounce the injustice faced by Amara, Abdalla & Kader. We demanded again that the Attorney General drop the charges.

Five years is five years too long.

Powerful speeches from Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca & Moviment Graffitti

Full video 👇
fb.watch/rgTNsMccYa/

“These three young men are heroes.”

Christine Cassar from Moviment Graffitti

#Freethe3
#DroptheCharges

timesofmalta.com/article/former…

One day, when it’s too late, we’ll hear a similar admission that the US and its allies could have stopped the genocide in Gaza

Five years. Waiting for JUSTICE while the authorities label them as aggressors. We stand in solidarity with the three, and will fight this injustice and criminalisation!

Interviewed about Malta's migration/border policies, the #ElHiblu3 , pushbacks to Libya, non-assistance at sea and criminalisation of migrants.We need a different political culture based on kindness and not exclusion and hatred Simon Trommel for Binnenlands Bestuur binnenlandsbestuur.nl/sociaal/harde-…

'This is a trial that should have never even reached this stage. Indeed, there should have never even been a prosecution.'

Sea rescue is a necessity, not a crime. Today, Italian prosecutors finally stopped pushing charges against the crews of #FreeIuventa , MSF and others! 🖤
Now Malta must also #FreeElHiblu3 and Greece #FreeHomayoun !
👉 elhiblu3.info
👉 freehomayoun.org/en

Five people die during a rescue operation. Too much secrecy surrounds this operation. A public inquiry is warranted by the #Malta government.

SAR Malta Network has called for a thorough and transparent public #inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deadly event last week in which five #asylumseekers died after their #boat capsized during a #rescue operation.

#tragedy #malta #LOCALNEWS
newsbook.com.mt/en/civil-socie…