Vienna, 20/09/2016
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned a threat made against Dina Kleanthous, journalist and crime correspondent of the online news portal Reporter Online in Cyprus.
Around 2:30 in the morning on Monday, 19 September, Kleanthous’ car was set on fire by unknown perpetrators in the city of Nicosia. The vehicle was parked outside the journalist’s house at the time of the torching, and the material damage is said to be extensive.
The correspondent stated that she believes the reasons behind this attack were almost certainly related to her professional activities and statements.
“Authorities in Cyprus must promptly react to this extremely dangerous attack on the well-being and human rights of Dina Kleanthous. Not only does this act send a message that the journalist is not protected adequately, it is also a brutal reminder that hidden criminal structures often try to silence critical voices in aggressive ways” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.