Journalists pay tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia on 8th anniversary of murder
“She was a writer, journalist, a woman who used her craft to hold up a mirror to society."
Journalists gathered in front of the memorial to Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta on Thursday morning to commemorate the journalist on the eighth anniversary of her assassination.
Caruana Galizia was killed on October 16, 2017, when a bomb placed underneath her car detonated as she drove away from her Bidnija home.
Speaking in front of the Great Siege Memorial, which has become a makeshift shrine to Caruana Galizia, Occupy Justice’s Pia Zammit said the gathering was not a protest, but a moment to reflect on what the journalist was before she became a symbol.
“She was a writer, journalist, a woman who used her craft to hold up a mirror to society, and a guiding light that pointed us in the right direction,” she said.
“In this country we often confuse dialogue with shouting matches. Daphne always insisted that our words should be clear – that we should say what we mean without ambiguity.”
Matthew Xuereb, president of the Institute of Maltese Journalists, said the country had lost a voice that stood for accountability and unwavering commitment to uncover the truth.
“Daphne was not just a journalist; she was a beacon of hope for many. In her writings, she exposed corruption, challenged power, and illuminated the darkest corners of our political landscape,” he said, adding that her work resonated far beyond Malta.
“The assassination of Daphne was not merely an attack on one individual; it was an assault on the principles of freedom of expression and the rights of all journalists. It sent a chilling message to those who dare expose the truth: that their lives could be at stake for doing what is right.”
Klara Vassallo, from PEN Malta, said that instead of living a comfortable life, Caruana Galizia had chosen to risk her neck to publish facts in the public interest, rather than the interests of the corrupt.
"Perhaps before the assassination, we hardly paid attention to the dangers that freedom of information and expression could carry with them. Perhaps it had to be this terrible event that woke us up and showed us that when we say “the truth hurts,” we could mean two things: it angers those whose sins are exposed, and it can also hurt someone like Daphne, who ends up dying for speaking it," she said.
Giuseppe Giulietti, from the Italian press freedom organisation Articolo 21, said Caruana Galizia never bowed her head to those in power. He urged the European Union to fully implement the European Media Freedom Act.
Those who attended then laid wreaths on the memorial.
The event was the first of several being held to mark the anniversary. At 3pm, another gathering will take place near the site of the assassination in Bidnija. At 6pm, a mass will be held at St Francis of Assisi Church in Valletta. At 7pm, a march starting at City Gate will end in a vigil in Great Siege Square.
‘Public still being denied truth about murder’ - PN
In a statement, the Nationalist Party said the public was still being denied the truth about Caruana Galizia’s assassination.
“Eight years after her murder, her relatives, friends, and all those who admired her continue to be left without justice.
“Whenever Robert Abela and his Ministers are asked about this assassination, they conveniently refer to the Public Inquiry and claim that there are individuals currently facing legal proceedings in connection with the case.”
The PN also accused the government of failing to implement the recommendations of the public inquiry into the journalist’s killing.
“If the Government led by Robert Abela truly wishes to distance itself from the government led by his predecessor – if he does not wish to remain under its shadow – he must immediately ensure that all the recommendations of the Public Inquiry are implemented in full.”
'Dismantle the system that made her murder possible'- Daphne Foundation
In a statement, the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, which was set up following her death to defend press freedom, protect journalists, and pursue justice for her murder, said the systems she spent her life exposing and ultimately made her murder possible should be dismantled.
“It means building a country where journalists do not work under threat, where truth is not punished with violence, and where the powerful are held to account and are not protected by the institutions meant to restrain them.”
The foundation said that, following the outcome of the public inquiry, Malta had a historic chance to confront the culture of impunity that facilitated her assassination.
“More than four years later, Malta has not yet fulfilled that obligation. Daphne cannot be brought back. But Malta can still honour her ultimate sacrifice and her memory - by delivering full justice for her murder, by rooting out the corruption she exposed, and by creating a future where the press can fulfil its democratic function and no journalist is ever targeted for doing their job.”