YouTube has removed Labour singer Joe Demicoli’s racist song, Diska Illegali – thank you, all those who reported it

Published: July 11, 2013 at 8:34pm

Labour singer Joe Demicoli’s shocking song, Diska Illegali, was uploaded on this site yesterday, via YouTube. It feeds into hatred of African immigrants with disgusting imagery and really spiteful racist sentiments.

It is beyond horrible.

Lots of you reported it to YouTube.

Within less than 24 hours, YouTube has taken it down on the grounds that it is a violation of its policy prohibiting hate speech.

It’s possible to fight back by reporting these outrageous things. Doing so has two positive outcomes: it helps reduce the amount of poisonous racist propaganda cluttering up sites used by normal people, like YouTube and Facebook. And having their racist rubbish taken down by the site’s administration is one of the best lessons ignorant, xenophobic and narrow-minded Maltese people can get that their sentiments are just not acceptable in the civilised world outside this rock.

Wherever you see racist jokes, racist remarks or poisonous views about Africans or Muslims, on Facebook – and Facebook is full, because this is the Maltese way – please, just use the report button. That’s what it’s there for.

Meanwhile, a reader has found the same song in a different upload with less explicit imagery. Please report this too.




30 Comments Comment

  1. H.P. Baxxter says:

    So we prosecute Norman Lowell and we fête Joe Demicoli.

    Maltese justice – don’t you just love it.

  2. AE says:

    This in itself says a lot.

    Daphne, thank you for giving us all this info. The only problem here is that the Dalli story has slipped into the background rather conveniently for him.

  3. CIS says:

    At last I am starting to breathe again.

  4. Foggy says:

    What about reporting such instances to the police? Surely they must be contrary to law.

    • Antoine Vella says:

      I have reported several pieces of racist comments to the police but, as an inspector told me (they phoned me up after my report), the hate speech and incitement must be very explicit in order for them to obtain a conviction.

      Insults do not, in themselves, constitute hate speech and even attributing bad intentions (“Africans will butcher our children”) may be libellous but is apparently not enough to be incitement to racism.

      • H.P. Baxxter says:

        Then why in heaven’s name did the courts prosecute Norman Lowell? Or is it a case of two weights and two measures, as usual? Ghax Joe Demicoli orrajt u simpatiku, imma lil Norman Lowell nibzghu minnu?

  5. Paul says:

    In the interest of the nation we would be better off sending Demicoli to Libya.

  6. Weird no ? says:

    Reported as: It is all against illegal immigrants…not against illegal immigration. It promotes their persecution, pushback policy back to their countries of origin where they could be prosecuted.

  7. Fabio says:

    Well done for having it removed.

  8. Snoopy says:

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dbUh6Jarh60

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J01HDRZDcl4

    There are still two copies. Have just flagged them up.

  9. ZeZeTech says:

    Poor old Joe, he’s trying to post his hate anthem again, this time under a false YouTube username; Troy Bolton, whose activities feature exclusively Joe’s videos, including a slideshow of Mr.Demicoli visiting a local cinefile’s. And ‘recommending’ Joe’s Hollywood escapade Maltageddon. Let’s nip this one in the bud, shall we?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J01HDRZDcl4

  10. scott brown says:

    Too many coincidences occurred these past few days.

    On June 23rd Joseph Muscat met with the Libyan Prime Minister. No details were given on what was discussed except that Libya is requesting the release of the Gaddafi funds seized in Malta.

    Since then the John Dalli mess got clearer to us all and more messy to him. This is only thanks to you Daphne.

    Since then more than 600 illegal immigrants were dispensed to Malta. Most probably by Libya. We all know that this business of illegal immigration is well organised in Libya. We all know how Gaddafi tried to negotiate a deal with EU to stop illegal immigration.

    But Joseph Muscat felt the need to remind us and the world, for three consecutive days, and when media coverage was high, that Libya, specifically Libya, is not part of the problem but definitely part of the solution. Why?

    Since when is Joseph Muscat more concerned on Libyan interests to the extent of having to mention it to Al Jazeera yesterday and in the Maltese parliament today.

    We all know John Dalli’s interests in Libyan affairs, in his multi billion ‘charity’ in African countries, and how he hung his head out in favour of Gaddafi when the need arose to the dismay of Barroso.

    I may be paranoid but my belief is that all the happenings of the past days were orchestrated.

    We all know how Joseph Muscat expected John Dalli to give explanations. He did not summon him.

    We all heard John Dalli declaring he will be maintaining his post at Mater Dei.

    We all heard the deafening silence of Joseph Muscat on the John Dalli mess.

    We all saw Joseph Muscat shaming Malta to the extent of making the European Court on Fundamental Human Rights to react.

    We all heard Joseph Muscat’s English humour compelling him to publicly apologise to Commissioner Malstromm. Humiliating himself and us in the process.

    WE all saw the barrage of negative media coverage worldwide.

    All this is not in Malta’s interest. Too much negative publicity to Malta was instigated by our Prime Minister.

    is it a coincidence that the arrival of 600 immigrants coincided with the Van Rumpoy visit?

    Is it a coincidence that these people were ‘dispatched’ soon after Joseph Muscat met the Libyan PM.

    Is it a coincidence that all this happened while the John Dalli case resurfaced.

    Is Malta representing Libyan and (I must say) Chinese interests in the EU.

  11. kanna says:

    Dak Joe Demikoli zibel iehor Laborista.

  12. Len says:

    I admire you but this time you disappointed me, Daphne. You should practice what you preach and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the way you advice other to act, thought that you are in favour of freedom of speech, and respect rights and freedom of expression.

    In this case Mr. Demicoli has the right to communicate his opinion on this matter the way he professes, using the medium he wishes. If you ask me, the song is bad taste however it did not incite ethnic hatred.

    [Daphne – You’d feel differently if that song were a scathing one about Maltese immigrants, Len, or about Maltese people in general. And imagine a similar song about gay men (“they go to lavatories and they get it in the ***…you can’t leave them with your kids because they ***”), or about women (“they’re just a bunch of lazy slags who aim to live off men…you can’t trust them because they lie all the time…)”. Now you get the picture.]

    • ZeZeTech says:

      There is a huge chasm dividing freedom of speech and hate speech. While everyone has the right to express his opinion and ideas, nobody can take other people’s rights away from them, which is what hate speech and Joe Demicoli’s tune are all about.

  13. johnUSA says:

    I have reported the group “Daqshekk ghal-Immigrazzjoni Illegali f’Malta” several times and I always get:

    “Thank you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our Community Standards. Reports like yours are an important part of making Facebook a safe and welcoming environment. We reviewed the group you reported for containing hate speech or symbols and found it doesn’t violate our community standard on hate speech.”

    How can it not violate their policy on hate speech? And furthermore, if many posts are in Maltese, how on earth are they evaluating such reports? I highly doubt they have a Maltese person working for facebook to analyze such reports.

  14. Bob says:

    Who do we report Muscat to? How do we get rid of him?

  15. H. Prynne says:

    What about if he sings this song in public, say during the Beer Festival? Can the police stop him?

  16. Len says:

    I got the picture Daphne, but Maltese immigrants did act like they were from outer space, gay men do like lavatories and get it up the *** and when it come to women, yes, they are a bunch of lazy slags and why should one trust them.

    Perhaps I need to stop thinking outside this box.

  17. Carmel Agius says:

    Have the police been informed?

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/377595985622234/

    MALTA TAGHNA
    IN LESS THAN 24HRS 1200 DECIDED TO ATTEND THE MASS DEMONSTRATION ON THE 4/8/13 . WE’RE GETTING MOMENTUM AND THIS IS VERY ENCOURAGING. THE DATE IS SET ON 4/8/13 BECAUSE IT IS FUTILE TO ORGANIZE A DEMONSTRATION WITH A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, IT WILL BE A SIMPLE QUACK. ON THE OTHER HAND BY 4/8/13 THOUSANDS WILL JOIN OUR DEMONSTRATION. IT WILL BE A FEROCIOUS ROAR THAT WILL BE HEARD!!!
    ONE DATE ONLY 4/8/13!!!

  18. martin borg says:

    I have always thought that Joe ‘ Kemmuna Airways’ Demicoli provided a much welcome and innovative satirical take on Maltese politics in an original way by applying new lyrics to famous songs.

    This time however, I believe that he has reached the pits . Not only do the ‘lyrics’ qualify as race hate speech but the snarling rabid way he sings them reminded me of Ku Klux Klanners in ‘ Mississippi Burning’.

    All he is doing is foment even more xenophobic and racist sentiments among us Maltese than there is. Shudder to think where all this can lead to.

    • ZeZeTech says:

      Can’t agree more Mr.Borg, I was disappointed (to say the least) after I’ve laughed with gusto at his Eurovision parodies. He’s shown his true colours though.

      Despite reporting the video to YouTube, as at today, this copy is still online. Maybe YouTube moderators don’t understand Maltese, someone should make it clear to them how offensive and racist the lyrics are.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbUh6Jarh60

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