Pulitzer-Winning Reporter Blocked By Facebook For Malta PM Expose

Matthew Galizia is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Matthew Caruana Galizia is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and a part of the Panama Papers investigation. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/@KSUTrivia)

Facebook “temporarily locked” Pulitzer prize winning journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia, following his posts on alleged corruption by the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat and his cabinet ministers.

According to Guardian, four posts written by Galizia in Maltese were deleted by Facebook citing that it violated the community standard of the social networking site.

For me, this process was enlightening because I realised how crippling and punitive this block is for a journalist.

Caruana Galizia told <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/19/facebook-blocks-malta-journalist-joseph-muscat-panama-papers">The Guardian </a></i>

A member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and a part of the Panama Papers investigation, Galizia took to Facebook to “expose” the irregularities of Prime Minister Muscat, his chief of staff and the minister of energy. Each post also saw a photo attachment from the Panama Papers, other documents and explanations for how it proves the allegations right.

Snap polls are scheduled to take place in the island nation on 3 June, following widespread political turmoil in the country.

Daphne Caruana Galizia this April alleged that another offshore shell company belonged to Muscat’s wife and was used to accept payments. Muscat and his wife have denied receiving payments or being connected to the shell company, and have said they will sue for libel.

Reported <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/19/facebook-blocks-malta-journalist-joseph-muscat-panama-papers">The Guardian</a></i>

Matthew Caruana Galizia, son of Daphne Caruana Galizia on 7 may started publishing his own investigative series on the allegations made by his mother with the hashtag #FattiKorrotti and #CorruptionFacts.

According to the Times of Malta, the posts of Galizia was shared more than 1,000 times and his account locked on 16 May.

Galizia reportedly suspects the hand of the prime minister’s office in influencing Facebook to lock his account.