Malta

“The Board of Inquiry’s report represents a milestone in the fight for truth, accountability and justice for Caruana Galizia’s assassination and its conclusions and recommendations are of global significance in battling impunity for crimes against journalists.”

IFEX has joined a coalition of free expression organisations in making a submission to the Public Inquiry. The submission details Malta’s relevant international obligations to uphold freedom of expression, the threats Caruana Galizia faced during her lifetime which paved the way for her assassination and continuing threats to the safety of journalists in Malta.

“These latest developments represent nascent steps towards justice for the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia; however, this progress is long overdue, calling into question why it has taken more than three years to get to this point” – RSF.

Thirty-eight months after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, rights organisations reiterate that a fully independent and transparent public inquiry is key to achieving justice for Daphne’s assassination and ensuring that this will never happen again.

Prime Minister Abela and persons in political office are urged to respect the public inquiry’s autonomy and to commit to implementing the public inquiry report in full once it is concluded.

The alleged attempted bribe was made by a lawyer working on the defence team of businessman Yorgen Fenech, who is charged with complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The undersigned organisations call for thorough and effective criminal investigations and prosecutions that ensure the whole truth is uncovered and all those responsible for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder are held to account in court.

In a letter to Prime Minister Abela, ECPMF and partner organisations express grave concern about his Government’s apparent interference with the activities of the independent public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, in relation to the timeframe for the fulfilment of its terms of reference.

Media freedom organisations call for a thorough investigation into threats made against Scavo by Neville Gafà, the former director of the office of the Maltese prime minister.

“The authorities should now establish Joint Investigation Teams with foreign police forces so that there can finally be an end to impunity in Malta, and full justice for Caruana Galizia”.

The Maltese authorities have a new opportunity to demonstrate that justice will be delivered for Caruana Galizia and her family by requesting that Europol immediately establish a Joint Investigation Team.

The undersigned organisations call on EU leaders to urge Prime Minister Muscat to guarantee that all investigations and legal proceedings will be conducted impartially, promptly and effectively, and without any involvement or influence at all from any individual potentially implicated in the case.

Filed with the French financial prosecutor’s office and the Paris public prosecutor, the complaint asks for Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and businessman Yorgen Fenech to be investigated on suspicion of giving or taking bribes and complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

With the public inquiry into the murder of Malta’s best known journalist set to begin on 6 December, free press groups urge full transparency and call on media, international governmental organisations and diplomats to monitor the opening hearing.

“We are deeply concerned by threats and acts of intimidation by the Maltese authorities, including members of the security services and other actors, that significantly undermine journalists’ safety and their ability to carry out their duties.”

This week has seen three ministers step down and the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff arrested – all in connection with the investigation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. But justice will not be served until the masterminds behind the crime are prosecuted and jailed.