International call for press freedom on anniversary of journalist’s assassination

Around 30 Italian journalists are coming together to visit Malta to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and make an appeal for press freedom.

More journalists continue to sign up to the event, organised by Italian Rai TV journalist Maria Grazia Mazzola, also aims to raise awareness about the safety of journalists in Europe – many of whom are risking their lives as part of their investigations.

The one-year anniversary will be marked by different groups, including a two-day visit in Malta by a group of five international press freedom and freedom of expression NGOs who will support the efforts to mark the one year anniversary of Caruana Galizia’s death.

They will also assess the the climate of freedom of expression in Malta. They have requested a number of meetings with government officials, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and members of civil society. The NGOs, Reporters Without Borders; the Committee to Protect Journalists; the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom; the International Press Institute; and PEN International, will then publish a statement of findings.

Among the Italian journalists involved in the event is La Repubblica journalist Carlo Bonini, who produced a documentary on the death of Caruana Galizia that was the focus of a debate at the Frontline Club last August with the participation of The Shift News.

Bonini just published a book called L’Isola Assassina. La Sfida Di Daphne Al Cuore Corrotto dell’Europa (The killer island: Daphne’s challenges in the corrupt heart of Europe) where he tries to pick up the trail of investigations she was following before she was assassinated.

A a video installation titled ‘The Truth‘ will also be presented in Cologne, Germany, on 16 October in honour of Caruana Galizia and all murdered journalists worldwide.