Academics condemn Caruana Galizia murder

A statement, in response to the tragic murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, made the rounds at the University of Malta, collecting almost 200 academic signatures.

The statement, which was circulated in an informal manner, got a “deluge of responses in a few hours”.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a fearless investigative journalist and political commentator. Her death makes it more urgent than ever for us to preserve the space in which the media can function freely as an essential part of a democracy. All efforts must be made to bring the people behind this crime to justice”, the statement read.

Signatures included Mark-Anthony Falzon, the head of department of Sociology, Joe and Oliver Friggieri, Gorg Mallia, head of Media and Knowledge Sciences, Ranier Fsadni, anthropologist  and columnist, Alex Sceberras Trigona, former Labour minister and Juanito Camilleri, former University rector, amongst others.

This follows a vigil, held by University students on Wednesday evening at quadrangle, and a decision to fly the flag at half mast for three days, as a sign of respect.

The board of Today Public Policy Institute also condemned the “cruel assassination” and “threat this heinous act implies for freedom of speech, which lies at the heart of our democracy”.

The institute went called on the government to conduct an “independent, comprehensive and swift investigation”, which would result in the “perpetrators being brought  to justice”.

They emphasised that this is a “very sad juncture in our nation’s history” and that it should be a priority to restore “the public’s faith in its democratic institutions”.