Politician allegedly attacks journalist covering anti-refugee march on Greece
Wall Street Journal writer Matina Stevis said a local politician assaulted her father in Greece. Read what she wrote on Facebook (We’ve also included some of her tweets and screenshots from her Facebook wall.
“Greek ultra-right wing party Golden Dawn members on the Greek island of Chios attacked journalists Wednesday evening during a protest about refugees and migrants.”
Now my father, who was struck by Chios Golden Dawn chief last is *also* under arrest bc the thug sued him for defamation. Greece=surrealism
— Matina Stevis-Gridneff (@MatinaStevis) September 15, 2016
“According to witnesses the protest started peacefully in the center of the port town of Chios, an island off the coast of Turkey that has seen thousands of refugees and migrants arrive over the past few years.”
“More than 3,000 are stuck in a camp there as the result of closed borders around Greece and a European Union deal with Turkey for migrant readmission, which has stalled in recent weeks.”
“The protest turned violent when it turned into a march on the refugee camp. Police and special riot police were present and endeavored to stop the protesters from reaching the camp, while refugees and migrants inside the camp braced for an attack.”
“In this very tense atmosphere, local journalist Ioannis Stevis was struck by a Golden Dawn local leader in the arm and had his camera thrown to the ground and broken, as he attempted to cover the events.”
“Earlier, another local journalist, Pantelis Fykaris, had been verbally attacked. Journalists were chased away and sought refuge from Golden Dawn members in nearby shops.”
“Mr. Stevis is in hospital being treated for his arm injury. He is pressing charges against the local Golden Dawn leader who attacked him, while the latter has also retaliated by pressing charges against Mr. Stevis, although it is not as of yet clear on what grounds.”
“Tensions in the Chios community have been growing as residents are concerned about the now-permanent nature of the very poor refugee camp facilities that are clearly unfit to support the thousands of people unwillingly stuck there.”
I'm lolling at the Golden Dawn thug who hit dad & is now all "officer arrest him he called me names." Coward, come get me too I'm in Kenya
— Matina Stevis-Gridneff (@MatinaStevis) September 15, 2016
“Local Golden Dawn members have piggy-backed on the concern of locals to stoke violence and hatred against the refugees and migrants as well as against non-governmental organizations, journalists and other civil-society members.”
“Chios, which is the next island south of Lesbos, is a key crossing for migrants and refugees coming from Turkey, departing from the broader Izmir area. It has been on the front line of the refugee crisis for the past two years.”
“Mr. Stevis is the author’s father. This note is not related to the Wall Street Journal, the author’s employer.”
