Free Press Unlimited, together with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), are donating €50,000 to the Caruana Galizia family to help finance lawsuits that had been filed against the slain journalist.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb on 16 October 2017.
“Around the world we see an increase in silencing journalists by burdening them with legal costs until they abandon their criticism or opposition" said Free Press Unlimited director Ruth Kronenburg.
“Often it has nothing to do with the work of a journalist but its an effective way to make it impossible for the journalist to continue their work.”
Even after her death, there are still 30 defamation cases pending against the family. Because these are civil cases, the family can be held accountable for damages if the court rules in favour of the complainants.
Free Press Unlimited said it is contributing to the costs for the team of Maltese lawyers assisting the family. A legal expert from ECPMF will monitor the progress of the court cases.
“We also support the family with legal costs for a public inquiry into whether her murder could have been prevented. Prime Minister Muscat has ruled out such an inquiry,” the group said.
ECPMF offers legal assistance to journalists and whistleblowers in trouble with the law in Europe, and a refuge programme of Journalists in Residence fro those under extreme threat.