The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the regional group of the International Federation of Journalists, today condemned the beating of journalist Makis Nodaros in Southern Greece, who appeared to be targeted for his investigative reporting on corruption and mismanagement of relief efforts for victims of Greek forest fires.
"We are joining with our Greek colleagues to demand a full investigation that finds not only finding those who attacked Makis but also identifies those who ordered this shocking attack," said EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "This is an appalling example of how journalists are increasingly being targeted for their work."
Nodaros recently wrote a number of articles exposing corruption and mismanagement over relief provided by the government, local authorities and non-government institutions for victims of forest fires, which last year destroyed a large part of the region. He had received threats before yesterday's attack.
Nodaros, a correspondent of the newspaper Eleftherotypia in the region of Helia in Peloponissos Southern Greece, was attacked on Thursday morning by two unidentified men. The two men approached the journalist in front of his apartment building, asked him if he was Makis Nodaros and when he said yes, they started attacking him. After beating him up, the men took his mobile phone and then escaped on a motorcycle.
The journalist was taken to hospital where he was treated for injuries to his head, arms and legs and then released.
The EFJ is joining with its member the Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN) to call for a full investigation into the attack and to ensure that journalists are not being targeted with impunity and that press freedom is protected.
For more information contact the EFJ at +32 2 235 2200
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in over 30 countries in Europe