The murder of Lassana Cisse shocked me and many people I know. It made me reflect on why such a heinous crime could happen at the heart of our community. It also made me wonder why, in a country known for its hospitality, for its Christian religious tradition and for its altruism, this horrendous and shameful murder generated much thought but very limited action to tackle the fact that Maltese society has, in reality, existing issues of xenophobia and racism.
It is difficult to explain and describe the feelings I had, and the thoughts that crossed my mind, when I first heard of Lassana’s murder, and of the two other men who were badly hurt in the same horrendous crime.
Attending the gathering to remember Lassana’s murder in Hal Far a few weeks ago, I was vexed by the surreal situation that a murder had happened, and which deep down, all of us there were convinced that it was racially motivated.
When the news that the accused were identified was announced, I felt perplexed and confused. It dawned on me, that the society that I have lived in for so long has changed – Changed in a way that what I took for granted for so long, is no more. This stark truth troubled and troubles me.
The fact that such horrendous racial hate has hit our islands makes me wonder what sort of a society we are living in. Since then I have been asking myself many questions such as:
- Are there more amongst us out there who would want to kill cold-bloodedly a human being simply because of his or her colour?
- Are there more amongst us out there who look at a human being with no human feelings at all?
- Are there more amongst us out there who have let hate dominate all other forms of human emotions?
- What sort of a society are we truly living in?
- What is happening to us, as Europeans?
- How can we safeguard, even through legislation, the fish that live in our seas, and then hate other human beings like us, because of their colour or creed?
- Who are we?
We all know, that other forms of brutality, have been taking place, to other migrants and asylum seekers around us.
We all know that quite a lot of harassing and bullying have been happening in different forms to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and those considered as ‘the other’.
We also know of the regular bullying even in our schools aimed at children who are considered different because of their colour or beliefs.
Lassane’s murder is to our society a warning signal … a wake-up call, that not all is well on our islands.
Lassane’s murder is evidence that no more time is to be lost. We urgently need to examine and reflect on our national conscience.
Today, the 20th of June, the United Nations observes World Refugee Day. The theme chosen for this year is #StepWithRefugees. This World Refugee Day, is challenging everyone of us to join together and take a step with refugees.
For us, living on the Maltese Islands, Refugee Day must also be an opportunity to examine our national conscience.
On this very important observance day, we each have a part to play in taking a step with refugees.
Therefore, I urge our politicians to listen to our civil society organisations who have been working tirelessly with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, for a long time and against all odds.
I urge our politicians and authorities to make sure that public officers and our security forces are sensitized to issues of racism, xenophobia and diversity so that people at all levels know of the importance of their responsibility towards ensuring the enjoyment of human rights for all, irrespective of who we are and where we come from. I urge our politicians and our authorities, to ensure that these issues are mainstreamed in all public functions and operations.
I also urge our politicians to listen to our brothers and sisters who are seeking refuge in our midst, and to move away from tokenism and towards effective action.
I urge civil society activists, to persist in their work and extend to our communities. Some of our communities are confused and need guidance. Some of our communities need to build resilience, through rediscovering once again, a sense of respect towards one another.
I urge those media houses who are using selective wording in headlines and stories in a bid to be somewhat sensational and possibly secure more reach. I urge them to refrain from using such an approach. The media has a responsibility to give visibility to the good which migrants bring to our community and to sideline attempts from actors vying for coverage, at the expense of migrants living amongst us.
I urge those businesses, who are exploiting migrants to stop this blatant exploitation and to stop treating them as second-class human beings. All businesses must treat migrants equally and provide them with equal employment conditions as other employees. They must not only acknowledge that migrants have the same rights, as all of us, to decent work and quality employment but also appreciate that migrants are actually helping their businesses and the Maltese Islands, to grow and prosper.
On concluding, I turn to our children. Dear children, I ask you to continue celebrating the diversity, the friendship, the inclusion and your positive attitude towards other children irrespective of where they come from, of their religion or belief, of their skin colour or other differences.
Please show, us adults, the way. This is what most of you are doing in our schools. Continue to show us that you stand for equality, inclusion, social justice and equity.
I also must acknowledge the many empowering initiatives that most of our teachers are taking in our schools to transmit these important values.
My hope lies in our children.
However, each and every one of us must endeavour to take a #StepWithRefugees. This is what humanity is all about. This is all about our peaceful coexistence.
Peace is not the absence of war.
Peace is all about respect and our belief to hold high human dignity, now, in the future, and always.