An ex-LGBT activist in Malta who reportedly faced potential prison time after sharing his testimony of leaving behind a gay lifestyle to follow Christ has won his years-long court battle. Matthew Grech, who years ago left a homosexual lifestyle to become a Christian, was acquitted March 4 by the Malta Magistrates Court after being brought up on charges of advertising conversion practices. He told CBN News about the importance of the victory.

“It feels really good and it feels like it’s a result of the faithful prayers of the saints all around the world,” Grech said of the victory. “I have mixed feelings. I’m thankful, however, it felt like the process itself was the punishment. And my question is, OK, do we now have freedom of speech around this issue in Malta? Because, really, if it was freedom of speech, I would not have had to go through a three-year process and in a criminal court for the first time in my life.”

Ultimately, he said he wants to see the ban on “so-called conversion practices to be revoked in Malta and for the European Commission to prevent it from entering every state in Europe.” Grech said people should be free to engage in honest conversation around such complex issues. After facing more than a three-year legal conundrum, Grech explained what he faced throughout the journey to fight for his freedom and free speech rights.

“I had 17 court appearances, faced several adjournments along the way,” he said. “It was meant to be summarized proceedings. … It was all meant to be resolved in one day.” But that one day extended into more than 36 months of legal proceedings and battles as Grech faced up to five months in jail and 5,000 euros in fines. “Having three years in court about what?” Grech said. “A simple conversation around sexuality and gender.” Watch him explain.

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