Daphne Caruana Galizia: A Journalist Who Will Continue To Live Through Her Work

Malta, a beautiful country made of clusters of islands, is located in Europe. Until today, many of us might not have heard its name. But today, the archipelago is mentioned in almost all of the biggest news platforms in the world.

It is because of a journalist; a journalist who did her job right.

Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, a Maltese investigative journalist who led the Panama investigation into Malta and exposed the corruption in her country was killed by a bomb planted in her car. The explosion was so powerful that the debris flew over a wall to nearby fields. Fifteen days prior to her death, she had reported receiving threats.

Fearless & Courageous

Named a ‘one-woman WikiLeaks’ by Politico, her work mainly focussed on exposing the corrupt and the powerful. Affiliated to no party, she questioned everyone. Her most recent reports were on the Malta Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, his wife, the energy minister of the country, and the government’s chief-of-staff who allegedly had offshore holdings in Panama to receive money from Azerbaijan.

She was facing defamation cases both from the ruling and the opposition party of Malta. The opposition party leader Adrian Delia had filed four libel suits in a week in late August after the journalist had written a series of articles on her blog linking him to a prostitution racket in London. Now, he will drop the charges after death.

The Economy Minister Christian Cardona had also claimed that Daphne was guilty of libel for her story on the minister’s visit to a brothel in Germany during an official tour.

She also wrote about a link between the gaming industry in her country and the underworld.

Her personal blog, often, had more readings than the combined circulation of Malta’s newspapers.

Malta is mourning

After the briefing by the Prime Minister and the opposition leader on her death, the parliament meeting was scrapped. The Prime Minister of Malta called the attack a barbaric one and also an attack on the freedom of expression, while the opposition leader has called it a political murder. Malta’s president, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, called for calm in the country.

Till now, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. An investigation of the murder has been called upon.

Why Journalists like Daphne Caruana Galizia Are Needed Today More Than Ever

Though not celebrated or hailed as a hero of the society, Journalists like Daphne Caruana Galizia keep power in check. They keep political leaders on their toes by reminding them that someone is watching their every step. If not for them, it is very easy for political leaders to accumulate both power and wealth, and also to trample on human rights.

A country is remembered by the courageous leaders it gives to the world. And from today, we shall know Malta by Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The Logical Indian community salutes the bravery of Daphne Caruana Galizia and pays tribute to her. We hope to see journalists across the world are inspired by her.