EFJ: Investigate Assault on Greek Journalist

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), a regional group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), released the following press statement on 6 December:

Today the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned the assault of a Greek journalist in Istanbul and called for an immediate investigation to find his assailants.

"We are shocked by this attack," said EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "Journalists have to work under difficult conditions in Turkey. Authorities must carry out an immediate investigation to send the message that journalists cannot be attacked with impunity."

Andreas Rompopoulos, a correspondent for the major Greek TV Channel Mega, correspondent of Greek daily newspaper Eleftheros Typos, and editor of the newspaper Hxo, which is published for the Greek minority in Turkey, was attacked yesterday (5 December) by unidentified assailants.

He suffers injuries to his head, hands and other parts of his body. None of the injuries are life-threatening. The EFJ said that this attack is the latest in a series of attacks against journalists by nationalistic elements in Turkey.

The Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN) also called upon the authorities to immediately identify and arrest all persons responsible and deliver them to justice "in order to prevent similar incidents in the future." (IFJ/IFEX/AG)