A podcaster removed an episode featuring an interview with a member of conservation NGO BirdLife Malta after claiming to have been threatened by a disgruntled hunter.
Podcaster Sayan Cassar said he removed an interview with BirdLife Malta head of conservation Nicholas Barbara after he was threatened in person at his workplace and received insulting messages from members of the hunting community.
Writing on the Facebook wall of the extraterrestrial and paranormal phenomena-focused Sayan Cassar Podcast, Cassar said someone had visited his workplace “to get some form of satisfaction for the fact that we had an episode with a BirdLife exponent”.
Calling the incident “unacceptable and crossing all limits of decency,” the podcaster announced the episode had been deleted and a planned follow-up interview with a member of hunting and trapping group FKNK cancelled.
Cassar stressed the threats had not originated from hunters belonging to FKNK.
“We have families and people we love, and we are not going to put our lives in danger because of a podcast that frankly so far has not earned us a lira”, he said. “We don’t need any more hassle and trouble”.
The post drew support and condemnation of the alleged threats from BirdLife Malta, with CEO Mark Sultana expressing the NGO’s “full solidarity” with Cassar.
“We have become accustomed to this, that as soon as someone breathes in favour of birds, hunters step in and attack at the lowest possible level. This remains unacceptable and should be condemned by anyone with civic sense”, he said.
‘I’m a quiet guy’
Cassar told Times of Malta he had been threatened at his workplace, a bakery, by a member of the hunting community, whom he claimed had alluded to harming someone precious to Cassar if the man’s freedom to hunt was taken away.
The podcaster said he also received insulting messages from hunters on social media and instant messaging apps.
He said he had been inspired to record the podcasts with BirdLife Malta and FKNK – and, later, a planned debate between the two – after having a conversation with his daughter about hunting.
Cassar said he had been looking forward to exploring hunting and conservation themes, including the possibility of introducing new bird species to the country.
While admitting he did not support hunting – “birds are a living thing; it’s a shame to kill them” – Cassar said he did “not want to put a shadow on good hunters,” adding his father was a member of the hunting community.
“I’m a quiet guy… I’m the son of a hunter who doesn’t like hunting,” he said.
Cassar said his podcast would limit its future discussions to the “paranormal, ufology, spirituality, mystery, occult and all that is hidden. Those who don’t like our decision can start a podcast and talk about whatever they want”.