A “Not guilty” verdict on a charge of “advertising conversion practices” in Malta highlights the inherent difficulties in defining what constitutes a “conversion practice” for the purposes of the criminal law, writes Nicola Laver.
A court in Valletta acquitted Matthew Grech, 36, who was a practising homosexual before becoming a Christian, more than three years after the event complained of. Matthew was interviewed by PMnews Malta in April 2022 about unwanted same-sex attraction and was introduced as a representative of the IFTCC (International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice).
In the interview (advertised on the channel’s Facebook page), Matthew did not encourage anyone to attend therapy or get help for unwanted same-sex attraction, though he did mention the IFTCC.
