Malta Suppresses Muslim History: Historian
The Superintendence serves as a "propagandistic machine which controls and abuses of historical evidence for religious and ideological ends," Malta Today quoted researcher Mark Camilleri’s recently published book 'Il-Mit Pawlin u l-abbuz tal-Istorja Maltija', on Monday, December 2.
Camilleri, currently chairman of the National Book Council, holds an MA in history.
In his book, Camilleri contends that a number of artifacts dating back from the Arab period were discovered during restoration works in Mdina five years ago.
He calls on the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to give independent researchers access to these remains.
He also accuses the Superintendence of secrecy over a find of artifacts at Hal Millieri and other areas.
Similar accusations were made in his booklet, 'The Pauline Myth', in which Camilleri claims information on Malta's Arab heritage is being suppressed from the public.
Camilleri also denounced the absence of any exhibits dating back to the Arab period in the Museum of Archaeology.
Even more, he compared the Superintendence to the cultural heritage agencies of dictatorships like fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
The book features an interview with acclaimed historian Prof. Godfrey Wettinger whose research established the historical fact that Malta was Muslim in the Early Middle Ages.
The book also refers to a speech by President George Abela in which he described St Paul's shipwreck in 60 AD as a decisive moment in history, which gave Malta a Christian identity.
Camilleri dismissed these claims as overlooking the fact that Malta's decisive conversion to Christianity occurred after the 13th century.
There is no official figures on the number of Muslim in Malta, an island country with a 400,000-strong population.
According to Wikipedia, the present-day Muslim community in Malta is a minority of around 6,000.
There is one mosque, founded in 1978 by the World Islamic Call Society.
Islam came to Malta in the year 870 CE and Arabic took firm hold in the mid-11th century when Arabic-speakers from Muslim Sicily arrived. Arab rule lasted until 1091, but the Normans allowed the Muslims to remain, and Arabic became their common language.
In 1224, the Muslims were expelled, but their language—which had evolved into a local Arabic dialect—remained.
Modern Maltese (or Malti) is described by some linguists as an Arabic dialect with 43 percent of the words have an Arabic origin.
Source: On Islam
