A group pushing for the legalisation of nudist beaches in Malta said tonight it is prepared to take the matter to European liberal parliamentarians and organisations due to a lack of response from Maltese parliamentarians.

The group said it is strictly non-political and deplored the fact that its statements were sometimes politicised by some members of the press.

It said that even though after many years of inaction the former PN government had hinted to decriminalise naturist swimming, police action against naturists at unofficial nudist beaches was continuing.

The group said it received support from some members of parliament (largely from the Labour Party), however, this was on a private basis.

“If this inaction continues then we will ask the help of European parliamentarians and organisations as well as international civil liberties groups to put pressure on the Maltese government.

The group said it e-mailed Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli on the issue today but did not expect an adequate response “even though rights for minorities was part of the election campaign for the PL”.

A year ago, the Justice Ministry had supported taking skinny dippers to court because: “Maltese law does not allow nudism in public places and beaches are considered public places.”

Asked if there were plans to introduce spot fines to replace court cases for such incidents, a spokesman had said the government was in the process of reviewing all possible offences and some might eventually be “decriminalised”.