Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia
Born
Daphne Anne Vella

(1964-08-26)26 August 1964
Sliema, Crown Colony of Malta
Died16 October 2017(2017-10-16) (aged 53)
Bidnija, Malta
Cause of deathAssassination (car bomb attack)
Alma materUniversity of Malta
Years active1987–2017
Spouse
Peter Caruana Galizia
​
​
(m. 1985)​
Children3
Websitedaphnecaruanagalizia.com

Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia (née Vella; 26 August 1964 – 16 October 2017) was a Maltese writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist, who reported on political events in Malta and was known internationally for her investigation of the Panama Papers, and subsequent assassination by car bomb. In particular, she focused on investigative journalism, reporting on government corruption, nepotism, patronage, and allegations of money laundering,[1] links between Malta's online gambling industry and organized crime,[2] Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme, and payments from the government of Azerbaijan.[3] Caruana Galizia's national and international reputation was built on her regular reporting of misconduct by Maltese politicians and politically exposed persons.[4][5]

Caruana Galizia continued to publish articles for decades, despite intimidation and threats, libel suits and other lawsuits. She was arrested by the Malta Police Force on two occasions.[5][6] Caruana Galizia's investigations were published via her personal blog Running Commentary, which she set up in 2008.[7] She was a regular columnist with The Sunday Times of Malta and later The Malta Independent. Her blog consisted of investigative reporting and commentary, some of which was regarded as personal attacks on individuals, leading to a series of legal battles. In 2016 and 2017, she revealed controversially sensitive information and allegations relating to a number of Maltese politicians and the Panama Papers scandal.[8]

On 16 October 2017, Caruana Galizia died close to her home when a car bomb was detonated inside her vehicle,[9] attracting widespread local and international condemnation of the attack.[10] In December 2017, three men were arrested in connection with the car bomb attack.[11] Police arrested Yorgen Fenech, the owner of the Dubai-based company 17 Black, on his yacht on 20 November 2019 in connection with her murder.[12]

In April 2018, an international consortium of 45 journalists published The Daphne Project, a collaboration to complete her investigative work.[13] The GUE/NGL Award for Journalists, Whistleblowers & Defenders of the Right to Information was established in 2018 in honour of Galizia.[14]

  1. ^ "Daphne Caruana Galizia". The Times. 21 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. ^ Henley, John (19 October 2017). "Daphne Caruana Galizia: Establishment was out to get her, says family". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Company in 17 Black cash trail received 'suspicious' Pilatus funds". Times of Malta. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. ^ Vella, Matthew (19 October 2017). "Execution of a controversial, bold and irreverent Maltese journalist". MaltaToday. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b Leone Ganado, Phillip (17 October 2017). "Caruana Galizia: her biggest stories and the controversies". The Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Caruana Galizia fined in criminal libel case". The Times of Malta. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. ^ Balzan, Saviour (18 October 2017). "When hell broke loose". MaltaToday. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  8. ^ Garside, Juliette (17 October 2017). "Malta car bomb kills Panama Papers journalist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Murder in Paradise: A Car Bomb Kills A Crusading Journalist". The Economist. 21 October 2017. p. 52.
  10. ^ "Top UK newspapers slam 'mafia state' Malta over Caruana Galizia murder". The Times of Malta. 18 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  11. ^ Jon Stone (6 December 2017). "Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: Three charged over killing of Maltese journalist who exposed Panama Papers corruption". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference 17Black was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference tdp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Jones, Alan (17 April 2019). "Julian Assange wins EU journalism award". Press Association. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.