FAR-RIGHT GREEK DAILY SPREADS ISLAMOPHOBIC CONSPIRACY THEORY TO OPPOSE A NEW MOSQUE
Eleftheri Ora, an extreme-right newspaper in Greece, continues to vilify Muslims in its articles. In a recent front-page piece, the newspaper misleadingly reported that a Greek Orthodox Church in Vottanikos Athens had been knocked-down to make space for the construction of a mosque.
The article’s title is a list of sensationalist Islamophobic accusations – ‘A shame for Greeks worldwide - Funds were found for the construction of the Votanikos Mosque - Syriza dogs force the islamisation of Greece. They uproot orthodoxy and sell Thrace, Macedonia and the Aegean’...
The fact-checking website Ellinika Hoaxes explain that this article is grossly misleading. A ‘self-identified’ priest did occupy an old building in Botanikos prior its demolition, claiming that it is an Orthodox Church. However, this individual is not affiliated with the Church of Greece or any other recognised Orthodox Organisation. And, he occupied this abandoned building only after the construction of the mosque had been announced.
It seems like this false article might be no more than yet another attempt by Eleftheri Ora to baselessly vilify Muslism refugees and portray Greece’s left-wing government as unpatriotic.
Symbiosis, GTTO partner in Greece, sent a complaint letter to the newspaper about this article. In it, they reiterated that newspaper have a duty to verify all the stories they report according to the Journalists’ Code of Conduct, which is accepted by Eleftheri Ora. Symbiosis also explained that false news like this article could have negative consequences on social cohesion and solidarity in the region. Like their previous complaints to/about Eleftheri Ora, this letter was left unanswered.
