Academics, Labour intellectuals in support of migrants’ rights NGOs

University academics and intellectuals close to the Labour Party have issued a message of support for NGOs supporting migrants' rights, whom Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in parliament warned to "shoulder their responsibility" for a petition to the European Court of Human Rights to stop a pushback to Libya.

Muscat's attempt at a pushback were thwarted by the Strasbourg court in interim measures it issued on an application by two lawyers representing migrant rights' groups, saying 45 Somali migrants scheduled for a forcible repatriation were not allowed to submit their asylum claims.

The ECHR has already ruled that such pushbacks are illegal and breach fundamental human rights.

Among the academics were former Labour candidate Robert Micallef and Dr Carmen Sammut, who heads Labour think-tank Ideat, who issued a joint statement supporting the NGOs who campaigned for the migrants not to be sent back.

"As academics we try to impart to the future professionals of this country a minimum of basic dignity and respect, both towards others and towards self.  We could not stand by and watch whilst our country sent Somali migrants who braved possible death in a hazardous journey, to seek safety, to seek a life, back to Libya.  We therefore support the NGOs who campaigned for these migrants not to be sent back."

The statement was signed by Marceline Naudi, Anna Borg, Claudia Psaila, Ruth Baldacchinio, Robert Micallef, Edward Warrington, Isabelle Calleja Ragonesi, Sandra Vella, Dione Mifsud, Paul Clough, Brenda Murphy, Prof. Angela Abela, Mary-Ann Borg Cunen, Prof. Ronald Sultana, Prof. Peter Mayo, Prof. Carmel Vassallo, Josann Cutajar, Maria Psiani, Anna Khakee, Carmen Sammut, Adrian Grima, Nathalie Kenely, and Joanne Cassar.