Malta Court Acquits Christian Man Who Faced Jail Over LGBTQ Testimony (VIDEO)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

VALLETTA/AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – A Christian man in Malta who faced jail time for publicly stating he had left the gay lifestyle said he “praises God” after being acquitted following a three-year legal battle in a case that could have wider European ramifications.

Matthew Grech, 33, had faced up to five months in prison and a fine of about 5,000 euros ($5,400) over a 2022 media interview in which he described becoming a born-again Christian and abandoning same-sex relationships.

“I thank God that justice has prevailed,” Grech said outside court after the ruling in a video statement obtained by Worthy News. “I had every right to share my Christian views around sexuality and gender and to speak about organizations that help Christians live consistently with their beliefs.”

The verdict was delivered Wednesday by Magistrate Monica Vella, who ruled that Grech and two journalists involved in the broadcast were not guilty of violating Malta’s “Affirmation of Sexual Orientation, Gender and Gender Expression Act.”

Journalists Mario Camilleri, 44, and Rita Bonnici, 45, had also faced prosecution after participating in the interview aired by independent media outlet PMnews Malta.

MALTA COURT RULES ON FREE SPEECH CASE

The 2016 legislation—considered the first of its kind in the European Union—criminalizes the performance or advertisement of practices aimed at changing or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

However, the court concluded prosecutors failed to prove the offense beyond a reasonable doubt that Grech’s interview amounted to advertising a prohibited “conversion practice.”

The judge compared the interview to public debate on other controversial social issues and warned that discussing such matters should not automatically be treated as criminal conduct.

Grech’s prosecution stemmed from an April 2022 interview with PMnews Malta, an independent online video channel, in which he spoke about struggles with sexuality earlier in life before embracing Christianity.

He said he once lived in same-sex relationships but changed his lifestyle after what he described as a spiritual transformation.

INTERVIEW SPARKED LEGAL BATTLE

Authorities opened the case after LGBTQ+ activists filed police complaints alleging the interview effectively promoted so-called conversion therapy.

Those complaints were filed by Silvan Agius, who helped draft the original legislation, as well as by activists Christian Attard and Cynthia Chircop.

They argued the broadcast functioned as marketing for the International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice (IFTCC), an organization Grech represents.

Grech’s lawyers, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, argued the charges violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech and religion under both Maltese law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, called the verdict a “decisive victory” for free speech.

CHRISTIAN LEGAL CENTRE HAILS VERDICT

“The attempt to criminalize him has collapsed because the prosecution could never coherently define what ‘conversion therapy’ even means,” Williams said. “He was targeted simply for sharing his Christian testimony.”

Grech said the lengthy legal process—including 17 court appearances—placed significant strain on him and his supporters.

“My prayer is that this does not happen again to any Maltese citizen,” he said, adding that he believes the country’s ban on “conversion practices” should be reconsidered.

The case has attracted attention beyond Malta as several European countries are considering similar bans.

In the Netherlands, parliament has moved toward criminalizing so-called conversion practices following a 2026 resolution by the Council of Europe urging member states to outlaw them.

EUROPE DEBATES CONVERSION PRACTICES BANS

Supporters of such bans say conversion practices can involve psychological pressure or coercive methods aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.

However, Christian groups and some lawmakers argue that legislation must not restrict pastoral counseling or open discussion about sexuality within churches and religious communities.

Debates about faith, sexuality, and personal transformation have existed for decades in Europe.

In the Netherlands, journalist and author Johan Th. Bos published a book in 1969 titled Ik Ben Niet Meer Zo (“I Am Not Like That Anymore”), describing the testimony of a Dutch man, Johan van der Sluis, who said he left the homosexual lifestyle after becoming a Christian and later married and had three children.

CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY DEBATE CONTINUES

Supporters described the story as a testimony of God’s power in a person’s life and said it inspired Christian groups offering pastoral support to people seeking to align their lives with their faith.

One such initiative eventually developed into the Dutch organization Stichting Different (Foundation Different), a counseling group that supports Christians struggling with same-sex attraction.

Back in Malta, outside the courthouse in Valletta, Grech thanked supporters, including lawyers, Christian activists, and friends who attended the hearing.

“I praise God for this victory,” he said in a video message.

“But there is still work to do to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of religion are protected across Europe.”

The ruling is likely to fuel continued debate across the continent over how governments balance protections for LGBTQ+ individuals with freedoms of expression, religion, and personal testimony.

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