Timeline of the spate of attacks against volunteers, members of humanitarian organizations, journalists and shelters on the Eastern Aegean islands in late February and March 2020
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27 February 2020
Attack against One Happy Family volunteers driving a car with carrying the NGO logo
In the afternoon of 27 February, a group of individuals gathered outside the building of the North Aegean Regional Administration attacked a car driven by two volunteers of the One Happy Family Community Centre. Video footage shows some of the group breaking the windows of the car, others swearing and some attempting to force the driver and the passenger out of the car.
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29 February 2020
MSF expresses concern over recent attacks against staff of humanitarian organizations and volunteers on Lesvos
MSF expressed their concern over recent attacks of humanitarian organizations’ staff and volunteers including attacks against three members of MSF staff on Lesvos island
https://msf.gr/magazine/einai-aparadekto-na-stohopoieitai-i-anthropistiki-voitheia
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1 March 2020
Group of locals attempt to block refugee boat from landing at the port of Thermi on Lesvos and attack journalists
On 1 March, a large group of locals attempted to prevent a refugee boat with a broken engine towed by the coast guard from reaching the port of Thermi on the island of Lesvos. The group is shown in videos verbally abusing the refugees. They also attacked journalists covering the arrivals including freelance photojournalist Michael Trammer (photos here), freelance photographer Raphael Knipping and Der Spiegel report Giorgos Christides and a representative of the UN Refugee Agency. Refugee Support Aegean (RSA) team members were also verbally insulted and threatened.
https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2020/03/01/lesvos-locals-mob-migrants-journalists/
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1 March 2020
Angered locals set up road blocks to prevent new arrivals reaching Moria camp, conduct car checks and attack cars driven by NGO staff, volunteers and other individuals
In an extremely tense atmosphere, the mayor of Mytilene called for new arrivals not to be transported from the north of the island to Moria camp. Many angered locals blocked the roads leading to Moria hotspot. Blocks were also set up in places such as the port of Thermi and Lampou Miloi on the road to Kaloni. Mobs controlled every vehicle that passed by and attacked cars driven by NGO staff but also unrelated vehicles. Calls of hate and threats prevailed in the social media and the locations of volunteers were posted as a means of intimidation. The attacks continued in the following days.
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1 March 2020
Attacks against vehicles of volunteers working in Moria camp
At least five cars carrying doctors, nurses, psychologists, a pharmacist and a translator including the one of a volunteer doctor from Ireland were attacked by men on motorbikes who smashed the windows with big sticks, planks of wood and baseball bats.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/irish-doctor-targeted-in-baseball-bat-attack-on-greek-island-1.4189722 -
1 March 2020
Transit shelter for new arrivals in the north of Lesvos destroyed by arson
In late afternoon on 1 March, unknown perpetrators set on fire Stage 2, a transit temporary shelter for new arrivals in Skala Sykamias on Lesvos.
https://stonisi.gr/post/7313/kaigetai-to-stage-2-sth-sykamnia-video
- 2 March 2020
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2 March 2020
Group of black-clad men attack German journalists Julian Bush and Franziska Grillmeier on Lesvos
On 2 March, a group of masked and black-clad men carrying sticks and stones attacked of German journalists Julian Bush and Franziska Grillmeier while they were driving their car along the coast of Moria.
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2 March 2020
Mob attacks MARE LIBERUM boat conducting human rights monitoring
In the evening of 2 March, a mob started threatening and shouting at the MARE LIBERUM crew and poured gasoline on the deck of the boat. Their boat was docked in Skala Loutron on Lesvos. The crew was forced to leave and anchored offshore.
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2 to 8 March 2020
Attacks against volunteers and NGO staff on Samos and Kos
Between 2 and 8 March, attacks were reported against volunteers and staff of NGOs on the islands of Samos and Kos including the burning of the car of a volunteer from a Scandinavian country on Samos.
https://www.efsyn.gr/ellada/dikaiomata/234402_pyrpoloyn-domes-dernoyn-atimorita-kaine-aytokinita
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2 March 2020
Attack to local journalist Anthi Pazianou on Lesvos
Anthi Pazianou, a local journalist, was attacked by a mob in one of the road blocks set by locals on Lesvos while driving her car. The incident took place in the morning of 2 March in Panagiouda junction. The journalist had covered the Thermi incident the previous day.
https://www.efsyn.gr/politiki/233541_oi-aganaktismenoi-bgikan-pagania-se-lesbo-kai-hio
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3 March 2020
Arson destroys the Chios People’s Warehouse
In the early hours of 3 March 2020, the Chios People’s Warehouse was destroyed completely by arson. The Warehouse was providing clothes to refugees and other vulnerable groups on the island since 2015. An attempt to burn the car of some of the volunteers running the warehouse was also reported.
https://astraparis.gr/TA-EYRIMATA-DEICHNOYN-EMPRISMO-TIS-APOTHIKIS-APOPEIRA-KAI-GIA-AYTOKINITO/
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4 March 2020
Reporters without Borders (RSF) calls for reporters in Greece to be protected from attack by anti-migrant residents
In a statement published on 4 March, RSF condemned attacks by Lesvos residents covering refugees and migrants arriving from Turkey and called Greek and EU authorities to protect journalists and prevent these press freedom violations.
https://rsf.org/en/news/reporters-greece-must-be-protected-attack-anti-migrant-residents
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5 March 2020
Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) expresses concerns over attacks against refugees and humanitarian workers in Evros and at Aegean islands.
https://rsaegean.org/en/serious-concern-over-attacks-against-refugees-and-humanitarian-workers/
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5 March 2020
Attack against members of humanitarian organization accompanying refugees to Kos hospital
In the early hours of 5 March, a group of 50-70 individuals stopped the car driven by staff of the NGO METAdrasi that was carrying two injured refugees to the Kos hospital following a request by the police. The group broke the car’s windows, attempted to attack the two refugees and tried to throw a smoke bomb into the car but was stopped by one of the staff.
https://www.kosnews24.gr/koinwnika/item/252391-metadrasi-anakoinosi-gia-tin-epithesi-enantion-melon-anthropistikis-organosis-pou-synodevan-prosfyges-sto-nosokomeio-tis-ko - 5 March 2020
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6 March 2020
Open Letter of 152 NGOs to Greek PM and the Presidents of the European Parliament, Council and Commission: ‘Protect our Laws and Humanity’
In an Open Letter to the Greek PM and the Presidents of the European Parliament, Council and Commission: ‘Protect our Laws and Humanity’, 152 NGOs express their opposition on the decision of the government to suspend the right to asylum and denounce the attacks on organizations that defend human rights and humanitarian organizations, noting that without the support of these organizations, the refugee management system in Greece would collapse.
https://rsaegean.org/en/protect-our-laws-and-humanity-open-letter-by-152-organizations/
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6 March 2020
Media report the presence of members of neo-Nazi Germany group ‘Identity Movement’ on Lesvos island
Media report the presence of members of neo-Nazi Germany group ‘Identity Movement’ on Lesvos island as well as the land border with Turkey.
https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2020/03/06/neo-nazis-lesvos-evros-migrants/
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6 March 2020
Lesvos court founds two locals guilty for threats against Nansen award winner Efi Latsoudi
Following a barrage of threats and fake news in social media against NGOs and those showing solidarity to refugees, on 6 March, a Lesvos court found two locals guilty for threatening Efi Latsoudi, UNHCR’S Nansen award winner and member of the RSA team despite statements of the sincere repetance they made. The court handed down a three-month prison sentence to both of them suspended for three years.
https://www.efsyn.gr/politiki/233859_fasistes-stohopoioyn-dimosiografoys-kai-allileggyoys
- 7 March 2020
- 7 March 2020
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10 March 2020
Supreme Court Prosecutor asks investigation about neo-Nazis attacking refugees, NGO staff and journalists
Supreme Court prosecutor Vasilis Pliotas asks local prosecutors to investigate reports that German neo-Nazis attacked migrants, refugees, journalists and NGO staff in Evros and the Aegean islands.
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12 March 2020
Seven individuals identified for attack against One Happy Family Volunteers
On 12 March 2020, seven individuals were identified for the attack against two volunteers driving the car of One Happy Family on 27 February. The individuals were referred to the First Instance Court Prosecutor of Lesvos and are accused among others for common peace, causing bodily harm.