Front Against Censorship says police being used for financial interests

The Front Against Censorship has condemned the “heavy-handed” action taken by police against two protestors who are being criminally prosecuted for calling Silvio Zammit, a circus organizer, a “clown” (Pulcinell).

The protest was held in December of 2010.

“The Police Force is using Article 252 of the Criminal Code to prosecute these persons, which could result in them being fined or sent to prison for up to three months,” the Front said in a statement.

The article states the following: “Whosoever, with the object of destroying or damaging the reputation of any person, shall offend such person by words, gestures, or by any writing or drawing, or in any other manner, shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine (multa).”

“The Front cannot help but feeling that the use of this law with respect to the term ‘pulcinell’ is totally out of proportion. In fact, this act is a direct attack on the protesters’ democratic right to demonstrate and express their condemnation. The Front suspects that the Police Force is being used by economic interests in order to intimidate Animal Rights protesters.”