EFJ and international NGOs condemn continued lack of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia

Nine international freedom of expression, press freedom, and professional journalists’ organisations, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), condemn the lack of justice for the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia a full year after three arrests were made in connection with the case. Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb that detonated near her home in Bidnija, Malta on 16 October 2017. On 4 December 2017, 10 people were arrested in connection with Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, of whom three men were charged with murder, the criminal use of explosives, criminal conspiracy, and involvement in organised…

#EndImpunity Campaign 2018 : Malta country report

On 16th October 2017, Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bomb attack in the town of Bidnija, near her family home. One year on, impunity remains because of the lack of an independent public inquiry and the unwillingness of the Maltese government to take concrete action. In addition press freedom is worryingly threatened and is decreasing since Daphne was killed. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a prominent investigative journalist who published a blog since 2008, labelled Running Commentary, one of the most widely read websites in Malta. She revealed a lot of stories on corrupted politicians,…

Malta: public officials must refrain from taking punitive action against journalists

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has published today a joint statement of findings from an international freedom of expression mission to Malta from 15-17 October 2018. The mission found that the Maltese authorities are not living up to their obligations to guarantee and safeguard freedom of expression and press freedom. The joint mission issued a set of recommendations. EFJ Steering Committee member and FNSI (Italian journalists’ union) deputy General Secretary, Anna del Freo travelled to Malta along with representatives of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute…

Anna Del Freo: “It is time to get journalists unionised in Malta”

From 15-17 October 2018, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) took part in an international freedom of expression mission to Malta, together with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI), PEN International, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The mission took place exactly one year after the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, while the ongoing investigation is being questioned and journalists in the country are under pressure. The EFJ was represented by Steering Committee member and FNSI (Italian journalists’ union) deputy General Secretary Anna del Freo. She encouraged Maltese…

Killing of journalists: European politicians must take us seriously

Today, it is one year since journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb for exposing corruption in Malta. Those who ordered the murder still enjoy impunity. Following the silent vigil held in her honour, in front of the Residence Palace in Brussels, the EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez demands concrete actions from political decision-makers: The EFJ calls on the Maltese government to respond positively to the request of the family of Ms Caruana Galizia to establish an independent public inquiry conducted by a panel of respected international judges, retired judges and/or qualified individuals with no political or government links. The EFJ…

Malta: one year after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s killing, impunity remains

On 16 October 2017, Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered by a car bomb in the town of Bidnija, near her family home. One year after, the International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) deplore the lack of independent public inquiry and the unwillingness of the Maltese government to take concrete action to end impunity around this crime. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a 53 year-old prominent investigative journalist who kept a blog labelled Running Commentary, one of the most widely read websites in Malta. The journalist had been targeted and sued many times for her writings in which…

Brussels: Silent vigil in front of Residence Palace to honour Daphne Caruana Galizia, 16 October, 12:00

The European Federation of Journalists invites you to join the silent vigil organized by Daphne Caruana Galizia‘s family and friends in Brussels. Here is their invitation to us: On 16 October 2017, the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in broad daylight in a car bomb outside her home in Malta. Daphne was investigating and exposing cases of corruption at the highest levels of government. Since then, three suspected contract killers have been apprehended but there is still no trace of who sent them and why — and it is not clear whether enough is being done to find…

International coalition calls for independent public inquiry for the death of Daphne Caruana Galizia

Prior to the anniversary of the murder of the Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia on 16 October, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has today joined a coalition of international organisations calling for a public inquiry into the her murder. The 26 international media freedom and journalists’ organisations have published an open letter to the Maltese Prime Minister, Mr. Joseph Muscat. The letter reads: Dear Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, I write to you on behalf of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and 25 organisations (listed below) representing thousands of journalists and human rights activists concerning Malta’s response…

Joint mission to Malta

The European Federation of Journalists and its Italian affiliate FNSI will join a group of international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations from October 15-17 on a mission to Malta. The group will support local civil society actions marking the one-year anniversary of the death of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and conduct fact-finding into the case and broader press freedom issues in the country. The group has requested meetings with government officials, including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as well as a wide range of civil society stakeholders. The EFJ will be represented by Anna Del Freo (FNSI), member…