Diversity be damned
Careful now, we're causing a scandal
When the planning authority sealed off a Sliema flat used by Muslims as a mosque, the Muslims took to the Ghar id-Dud promenade just outside and began to pray there.
People might have seen it as entertaining respite from the relentless monotony of non-events on that stretch of seafront, but apparently not.
One newspaper dispatched a reporter to cover the proceedings, and he interviewed passers-by. “If this happens again, there’ll be trouble,” said one. “Malta is a Catholic country.
They have no right to come here and pray in front of us,” said another, with a keen understanding of human rights, freedom of worship, and European Union membership, which she believes allow us to persecute Muslims and discriminate against them. “I don’t care what they do in the privacy of their own home, but not here.
We’ve had enough. If you were to do the same in their country they would stone you.” Ah, an eye for an eye, and no understanding that Malta, unlike the countries one imagines she has in mind, respects human rights.
There was more. “I can’t understand how they could have been given a permit for this, including police presence and all,” said a man who the reporter described as being “visibly disturbed by what he saw.”
If a group of men quietly praying in public disturbs him, then I strongly suggest he avoids the upcoming cocaine-fuelled paedophile orgy planned for Ta’ Qali. The visibly disturbed man continued: “They should go to a mosque. That is where they belong. Or in some hole somewhere. But not here where I bring my children to eat and have a good time.”
Clearly, he can’t have his children shocked, scandalised and corrupted by the sight of Muslims at prayer. “I would have had no problem if they were Catholics praying…in Malta we are all Catholics so it’s not a problem, but not them. Even the tourists were disgusted.”
Yes, I’m sure they were. We have no Muslim tourists, but only tourists who have never met any Muslims.
When I hear these things, I am no longer surprised that 2,000 Africans penned behind a chain-link fence are considered to be an imminent threat to our health, wealth and happiness.
Give me strength.
This is excerpted from my column in The Malta Independent on Sunday today.
19 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
I am disturbed that these racist feelings are widespread in Malta. These are sentiments expressed by quite a number of my friends who should know better. And these are regular churchgoers and communion takers. It seems the Pharisees are still among us.
“I don’t care what they do in the privacy of their own home, but not here”
Something they apply to both prayer and sexual choice it seems.
What newspaper was this? What a lovely way to celebrate diversity? Do these people realise that the Catholic God and the Muslim God are one and the same? Different religions are merely different philosophies on the same God!
[Daphne – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090502/local/muslims-gather-in-prayer-along-sliema-front ]
It’s a fear of the unknown, Tonio – some of the men praying were Maltese so I don’t think that it’s racism as such. There is a general lack of education. Diversity could be a big asset, but all you hear about are disadvantages.
I am sure the objectors did not realise that the men praying included Maltese, but they were irked by them wearing Arabic clothing.
I am a person that lives and lets live. If they want to pray in Sliema, then let them. The only thing that rather worries me is Mr. Zina being quoted as saying “it would become impossible to control a backlash”. This sounds like a threat and may get out of hand.
“Cocaine-fuelled paedophile orgy planned for ta’ qali????
Is this some kind of joke?
Organized and attended by the highest in the society. When the weather gets better they move to Ghajn Tuffieha.
What a nation of intolerant bigots we have turned out to be.
All religious rites/prayer should be confined indoors, including traditional Maltese Catholic events. The need to express oneself outdoors is rooted in exhibitionism and divides nations…
“Denis Catania (1 hour, 59 minutes ago)
@D.Vella: Yes I have been there. It happens on a daily basis in Marsa and Safi. Why doesn’t it make news in Marsa or Safi? Are the people in Sliema to good for these people? Do the people in Sliema think they are immune from such events? Should the people of Sliema be immune? Guess what you are not. Get use to it. Sweiqi, Ibraq and Madeline is next. ” http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090502/local/muslims-gather-in-prayer-along-sliema-front
Are they going to gather for prayer at Ghar id-Dud when there is a gale force grigale? Barrakka Gardens is a better location. I believe they had the right to meet in private in the flat, provided they don’t disturb the peace, though fifty men gathering every Friday in a flat is a bit disturbing.
The problem is that the negative image which Muslims have created for themselves around the world through their terrorist actions worldwide, is coming back to hit them in that the ‘civilised West’ would prefer them to go away, if not totally disappear, from their local scene; so praying in the open in fashionable Ghar-id-Dud is deemed provocative. Even if MEPA was right in refusing a ‘change of use’ from residential to place of worship, this should also apply to the numerous Christian prayer groups which meet regularly in private homes, with no similar application being required. In my opinion, such gatherings should be conditionally allowed, limiting the number of participants to, say twenty, and to impose sound-proofing measures such that their prayers or singing, do not disturb (and maybe irritate) neighbours. Good sense should always prevail.
Some hilarious (and scary) comments from http://www.timesofmalta.com, as usual:
“Give them an inch and they will take a mile. Isn’t obstructing the highway a criminal offence?”
Yeah, they took up all four lanes of the Sliema promenade.
“Can ANYONE, Comunists, Muslims, etc. gather in a group and practice their believes? Can Roman Catholics do this in a Muslim Country”
“It happened in Sri Lanka, it happened in Saudid Arabia it happens in Dubai, and much more in radical islamic countries. No. In Malta Muslims should not be allowed to pray in our streets, they have the mosque. One is enough for them. They dont need other places.”
“Praise God in your mosque. In Doha, Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah, Cairo, Tunisia where it is a mulsim country we are not allowed to wear a cross let alone celebrate in the streets.”
Good ol’ reliable Fatwa envy at play.
“My argument is that when these countries (and religions), become tollerant we will do the same.”
Yes, because setting an example would be an extremely bad thing to do.
And of course our dear old friend lgalea jumped on the bandwagon:
“THEY CAN GO TO THE KORDIN MOSQUE TO PRAY.
MALTESE CITIZENS OPEN YOUR EYES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.
THE EU HAS ALREADY DECIDED AGAINST CRUCIFIXES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS BEING SHOWN IN PUBLIC TO APPEASE THEM. WE ARE BEING INVADED BY THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE OF THE EU DUBLIN II CONVENTION. LET’S GET OUT OF THE EU BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
Can’t even continue, the stupidity is mind boggling.
Oh come on, what bull. I’m not a Catholic myself, yet I still have this religion constantly shoved down my throat. I mean, just compare praying in a small group, peacefully not causing any disturbances, to a procession all round town, with microphones and loud speakers, attended by hundreds of people…
Just to quote… ‘They have no right to come here and pray in front of us,” said another………hypocrisy anyone?.
See the comments below :
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090504/local/malta-says-it-will-help-migrants-continue-on-their-way
‘I don’t care what they do in the privacy of their own home’
– nobody in the right frame of mind will invite scores of worshippers into his own home on a daily basis, with so many inconveniences. I challenge anybody of any religion to do so.
“visibly disturbed by what he saw.”
– imagine living in a residential apartment and seeing this in the ground floor apartment on a daily basis. Mepa finally saw the light.
‘They should go to a mosque’
-agreed. The Government or some benefactor should select an abandoned property with a full permit for a place of worship for this purpose.
‘believe they had the right to meet in private in the flat, provided they don’t disturb the peace, though fifty men gathering every Friday in a flat is a bit disturbing’
– this is a gross contradiction: How can scores of worshippers meet regularly without disturbing the peace and tranquility of the rest of the residents in the block?
“it would become impossible to control a backlash”
– Zina has to be pressed for an explanation to this statement and steps taken accordingly.
if MEPA was right in refusing a ‘change of use’ from a residence to a place of worship…’
– Of course Mepa was right, Edgar.
‘they should be allowed to remain in their flat where they would not be disturbing anyone’.
– it is obvious that the kiosk owner doesn’t live there in the block hereself, otherwise she wouldn’t have said that.
‘The residents of the flats had to seek alternative accomodation’
– unbelievable what cheek.
‘the gathering outside might become a regular appointment (as it was inside the flat) until their flat was reopened’.
– I only hope for the sake of justice that Mepa’s closing the flat is not simply a pre MEP election gimmick and would reopen the flat after the June 6 election. Let’s wait and see the outcome.
“The Government or some benefactor should select an abandoned property with a full permit for a place of worship for this purpose.”
Don’t agree. They should acquire a place of worship on their own, seek the permits and use accordingly. The government should not stand in the way for this. You see I believe firmly in a separation between mosque and state (!).
Until this is done I don’t see the great harm in them praying on the seafront for a while.
see the blog comments: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090508/local/muslims-pray-again-on-the-sliema-front
We’re at it again. Don’t Maltese people realise that the ones breaking the law are the ones posting hatred and intolerant messages?