The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), yesterday condemned a reported attack on a journalist in Greece.

According to a statement posted on the website of the Journalists’ Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers, a municipal police officer in Athens allegedly struck and insulted Greek journalist Lambros Panayiotou on May 29 as Panayiotou filmed the officer and five others arresting a Somali immigrant.

The officer also allegedly tried to snatch the mobile phone that Panayiotou was using as a camera. Reports indicate that Panayiotou, who previously worked for the Star TV channel, identified himself to the officers as a journalist.

Following the incident, both the reporter and his alleged attacker sought to press charges against one another: Panayiotou for the alleged assault and the officer for Panayiotou’s supposed interference in the officer’s work.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic noted that Panayiotou, as a professional reporter, had the right to film the actions of police officers in a public place, and Vujovic commented that the officers should have been aware of this right.

“Neither reporters nor citizens should be beaten by the municipal police for using their camera,” he said. “I hope that the perpetrator of this attack is brought to justice and that media work goes unhindered in the streets of Greek cities.”