
Moviment Graffitti has called for an end to the detention of migrants in Malta, arguing that it is inhumane and unnecessary.
The organisation expressed solidarity with those held in detention centres, particularly in Ħal Safi, highlighting concerns over their treatment and living conditions.
The group criticised the detention of newly arrived migrants, including vulnerable individuals such as women, children, LGBTIQ+ persons, and those with serious physical and mental health conditions.
They also condemned the arrests of long-term residents who have been working and living in Malta regularly, only to be detained and deported.
Moviment Graffitti cited reports from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which documented overcrowded, unsanitary conditions and a lack of access to basic rights, describing the situation as “inhuman and degrading.”
They also referenced a 2023 European Court of Human Rights ruling, which ordered the Maltese government to compensate a young migrant €28,000 for being held in such conditions for 225 days.
The organisation urged authorities to release vulnerable detainees, increase transparency at detention centres, stop prolonged detentions, and implement alternatives, such as supervised community living, which they argue is more humane and cost-effective than detention.
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