When Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered, one year ago, thousands of Maltese citizens gathered in the streets of Mosta for a silent outburst, expressing their shock, their anger and their condemnation of this horrendous crime.
I remember the silence outside the Rotunda in Mosta and then, the thunderous applause as the casket carried by her husband, sons and friends arrived. This applause resonated louder than any slogan could ever have. This applause was heard far beyond the borders of Malta.
From that moment I admired the courage of her sons and family. I am deeply impressed by the solidarity of her colleagues, and by the response that her death has provoked in Europe.
It was not only a journalist, a mother and a spouse who was killed when Caruana Galizia lost her life. That instant, she became the symbol and a martyr of the very idea of a free press.
From that moment, Caruana Galizia became the symbol of all the journalists targeted, throughout the world, journalists who want to investigate, to report, to express their critical views. She became the symbol for the citizens’ right to know, the right to hold the powerful accountable, the right to dissent. She became the symbol of courage. She became the bearer of democracy because when she was targeted, ultimately democracy was targeted.
Each time a journalist is silenced for his or her work, part of democracy dies
Journalists are the eyes, the ears and the voice of a free and open society. The free media are a cornerstone of democracy. It is unacceptable that a journalist can be killed for doing his or her work. It is equally unacceptable that a single perpetrator of the assassination of a journalist can escape justice.
Worldwide, in the last 25 years and in 90 per cent of the killings of journalists, impunity has been the rule. This cannot be accepted in a democracy and Europe must act. A few months after the assassination of Caruana Galizia, Ján Kuciak and his fiancée were killed in Slovakia. Many other journalists have been the target of threats and intimidation. Each time a journalist is silenced for his or her work, part of democracy dies.
When freedom of the press is under such extreme threats it is an alarm call for Europe. When journalists face continued smear campaigns, when so many live with death threats from the mafia, criminals, corrupt officials or extremists.
In recent years, online threats and intimidation have become a daily reality for many journalists. Most often, such messages, posts and tweets come from the dark. Their anonymous senders lack the courage of the journalists they choose to intimidate. But the message is clear: don’t voice your opinion, don’t ask questions, don’t publish what you know. Caruana Gazlizia refused to cede to intimidation. She was the honour of democracy.
That’s why honouring her memory must unite us all. Honouring her memory by continuing her investigations as her colleagues have been doing in the Daphne Project. This is a powerful pledge that nothing will stop the work of a courageous journalist. Honouring her memory by the citizens placing candles and flowers.
By honouring her memory we will defend the safety of journalists, by demanding that the authorities investigate each threat, that they combat impunity and respect media freedom everywhere, in Europe and beyond.
Honouring her memory will be done when justice is served. And it will only be served when all those behind the three accused killers are tried and convicted. Whoever are the criminal instigators of the murder of Caruana Galizia must face justice. This is a precondition to defeat intimidation and corruption and to preserve a free and open society.
Harlem Désir is OSCE representative on Freedom of the Media.