Dutch journalist, Ingeborg Beugel, who caused a stir after questioning Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on migrant pushbacks last week, has confirmed that she has left Greece after allegedly facing attacks and bullying.
The Dutch journalist, who has lived in Greece for 40 years, claims she has been threatened and even had rocks thrown at her after her testy exchange with Mitsotakis over migrants became a hot topic both in Greece and across the world.
READ MORE: Greek PM defends migration policy in heated exchange with journalist.
“A man threw a stone a my head. He called me a Turkish… spy and told me to go to Turkey. The stone hit me in the forehead. I was shocked and started running toward my house,” she said.
In an interview with Dutch media NL Times, Beugel said she was advised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch embassy in Athens to leave Greece as soon as possible.
She said the Dutch Journalists’ Association (NVJ) has been providing assistance to her, whilst the Greek authorities provided no help.
Beugel doesn’t plan to be gone for long, however. She stated that she still has “important work to do here” and that she will return to Greece when it is safe.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Global Network for Independent Journalism (IPI) condemned the threats against the Dutch journalist.
“IPI is appalled that Dutch journalist, Ingeborg Beugel, has been driven out of the country after facing threats, insults and even a physical attack. She was targeted in a malicious smear campaign and branded a Turkish propaganda agent after questioning the PM about illegal pushbacks,” the statement reads.
Source: Keep Talking Greece.
