Maltese Patriots Movement welcomes Muslim invitation, but stipulates conditions

The Maltese Patriots Movement yesterday welcomed an invitation from the Malta Muslim Council to a dinner at the council’s prayer meeting venue in Floriana, but has laid out a number of conditions before accepting it.

In a statement, the movement said that before any talks with the council, led by Bader Zeina, are opened, any places being illegally used for prayer gatherings must be closed down.

The movement noted that the Muslim Council and Bader Zeina are not representative of the whole Muslim community and consequently called for the inclusion of Imam Mohammed Elsadi in any negotiations.

In its statement, signed by secretary-general Norman Scicluna, the movement said it felt that the division that exists in the Muslim community needs to be regulated before any progress can be made.

Instead of a dinner, the movement said a more formal meeting – including representatives of the political parties and the church – should be held to discuss the way forward.

The movement noted that the number of requests for places of prayer for Muslim is on the rise, which indicates that the number of Muslims in Malta is increasing rapidly. The acceptance of such requests is an open invitation for these minorities to remain in Malta on a permanent basis, the movement said.