A final verdict has been postponed within the case of Matthew Grech, a Maltese citizen who fell afoul of his country’s so-called ‘conversion therapy’ laws for sharing his testimony of being an ex-gay Christian.
The final verdict had been due on Thursday but was postponed for the second time. A date has not yet been set for the brand new hearing.
In 2016, Malta became the primary country within the EU to ban ‘conversion therapy’. Similar bans have been proposed for the UK.
Grech was charged with breaching the laws when he gave an interview in 2022 on PMnews Malta by which he described his decision to depart homosexuality after finding faith in Jesus Christ. The presenters of the programme are also facing prosecution under the law.
Lawyers representing Grech say that the interview was simply an expression of his faith and identity and didn’t constitute an commercial for ‘conversion therapy’. As such, his lawyers argue that the fees against Grech represent a violation of his human right to free expression, and to practise his faith.
Grech’s case is being followed closely by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which states that the decision will set a precedent and sure influence how similar laws are enforced in other countries, including potentially within the UK. The CLC can also be providing legal support to Grech.
The case is complicated by the undeniable fact that Grech was introduced on the show as a representative of the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice.
Dr Mike Davidson, founding father of Core Issues Trust and IFTCC, defended Grech at his last court hearing and confirmed that Grech had never undergone ‘conversion therapy’, nor had he practised it.
Dr Davidson, said, “The freedoms of speech, conscience and religion are being attacked. The fact is that therapeutic and counselling alternative is a fundamental right.
“Governments promoting monocultural viewpoints – this concept that sexual orientation is inborn and unchangeable, and that gender is unrelated to biological sex – are denying those unwilling to discover as LGBT the precise to depart identities and practices not relevant to them. This is a human rights issue.”
It has emerged that an EU equality official and LGBT activist, Silvan Agius, helped initiate the case by filing a police report. In court Agius said that it must be illegal to say that somebody can leave homosexuality.
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the CLC, said, “The prosecution on this case has categorically did not define what the term ‘conversion therapy’ even means. It’s an imposed term with no real meaning in actual fact.
“No credible evidence has been presented to justify a ban. Instead, aggressive campaigning has been geared toward criminalising Matthew and others who share his Christian beliefs on human sexuality, marriage, and what it means to be female and male. The aim is to silence dissent.”
She added that Grech had been criminalised merely for sharing his personal testimony of religion and for giving honest answers to the questions posed by the presenters of the show.
Grech himself said ahead of the hearing on Thursday, “Anyone who cares about freedom of speech must be alarmed by what is occurring to me. If it happens to me in Malta, I assure you that it’ll soon be happening within the UK and other countries internationally.”
Speaking after the postponement, Grech asked people to proceed praying for him: “It takes patience to maintain on waiting … it has been three years of waiting and 12 court hearings and a few more adjournments along the best way but we’ll get there ultimately.”
