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.
However, a senior EU equality official and LGBT campaigner reported him to the police, leading to the criminal charge against him. Conversion therapy was banned in Malta in 2016, the first EU country to do so.
After the verdict, Matthew said: “Today’s decision is not just a personal vindication, it is a reaffirmation of a fundamental principle: speaking about one’s lived experience, including the transforming power of Christ, is not a crime.”
However, the IFTCC said the Maltese Government has struggled to define “conversion therapy”, adding that this is “something successive British Governments have struggled with”. IFTCC chairman Michael Davidson gave evidence for the defence, described ‘conversion therapy’ as “a politically charged and punitive term that lacks a universal definition, often used to silence discussion and professional critique”.
