Malta journalists face SLAPP threat even as criminal libel repeal proceeds Libel abuses again in spotlight following Caruana Galizia murder
Members of an IPI/SEEMO delegation (left-hand side, from L: IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic, former IPI Executive Board Member George Brock, and IPI German National Committee Chair Christian Zarm) meet with Slovenian Justice Minister Goran Klemenčič (first from right) in Nov. 2014 to discuss changes to Slovenia’s official secrets and defamation legislation. Photo: IPI.
The misuse of defamation law to silence journalists remains a problem in Malta, even as the Maltese government is currently discussing a new bill to repeal the country’s criminal libel law. In particular, several Maltese media houses have been the target of “SLAPPs” (strategic lawsuits against public participation) over the past year.
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