Mellieha free newspaper to open premises to Muslims for prayer

A free newspaper publisher has said it will offer its Mellieha premises to the Muslim community to be used for the purpose of prayer.

“Following in line with the gesture of solidarity and respect that St Albert the Great College recently announced, MaltaNow would like to extend the same gesture in offering their premises in Mellieha for the same purpose,” the publisher said in statement.

MaltaNow said the Planning Authority has taken a dim view of prayer rooms in recent months, with applications in Gozo, Blata l-Bajda and Santa Venera – for both the Christian and Muslim communities – all turned down due to issues of parking and the disruption to residents.

The St Paul's Bay local council last week unanimously objected to a Malta Muslim Council application for planning permission, to convert a basement-level shop in Triq il-Mazzola, Buġibba, into a new prayer room.

Far-right protesters Ghaqda Patrijotti Maltin will be holding a protest in the locality on Sunday 9 October, against the mosque.

The local council distanced itself from the “extremist” gathering.

Mayor Graziella Galea had told MaltaToday that the council’s objection to the prayer room was a result of inadequate space and of disturbance to public order, and that the decision was made regardless of the religion in question. “During the meeting, it was brought to attention that the prayer room was in operation without the necessary permits. Such illegal activities should be stopped, especially when they are taking place in touristic areas, for obvious reasons,” she said.