Greece: Freelance Journalist Lydia Emmanouilidou Denied Access to Samos Refugee Camp

Move by Greek authorities raises concerns about the conditions and treatment of people at camps

Location: Greece
Date: October 2, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is highly concerned with the Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum denying Lydia Emmanouilidou access to a refugee camp in Samos. Journalists should be allowed to cover refugee camps, especially during times of high influx, to ensure transparency and hold the government accountable for mistreatment. We urge the Ministry to grant Emmanouilidou and all press access to refugee camps.

 “Unless I can go in and see things for myself, I'm not actually able to do the reporting that I need to be doing,” freelance reporter Lydia Emmanouilidou tells CFWIJ. The award-winning journalist who has covered the plight of refugees in Europe for years, was astonished when she was refused access to Samos camp on October 2, 2023.

Without explaining why, the Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum denied Emmanouilidou accreditation.

“They never before said to a journalist, which they did to me, that they've changed their whole process and that they're suspending their application process and no longer even considering applications.”

A week prior, Emmanouilidou had applied for a press pass from the ministry, requesting a response by September 29 to make travel arrangements. The Ministry of Immigration and Asylum did not provide a timely reply. Emmanouilidou then contacted the designated foreign media press representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who tried to help. Despite their efforts, both ministries confirmed that journalists’ access to refugee camps was suspended until further notice.

“The application process for journalists reporting on Greek refugee camps was never straightforward or transparent,” says Emmanouilidou. The journalist recalls how on her most recent trip to a camp, security officers followed her around, but at least she was allowed access.

The Aegean islands, including Lesvos and Samos, are experiencing a significant influx of refugees, making it crucial for journalists to report from inside the camps. Non-profit organizations working with refugees have raised concerns about mistreatment and illegal detentions in Greek centers. Access to reliable information from these facilities is essential for transparency, accountability, and understanding of the challenges faced by refugees.

Emmanouilidou expressed her frustration, emphasizing that overcrowded conditions in the camps, the quality of food, and the overall situation could only be fully comprehended through first hand reporting.

“One of the big issues right now is trying to understand what's happening with the people who are being brought in,” says the reporter. “They have to go through certain procedures, and until that happens, they're basically being held arbitrarily in detention, often for longer than is legal.”

Emmanouilidou explains that these people in the camps have no way of communicating what is happening to them publicly.

After over a week requesting a reason for her refusal to the camp, the government told the International Press Institute that media access to refugee facilities in the Eastern Aegean islands, including Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros, and Kos, is now limited. According to the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, this restriction has been implemented due to the increased number of refugees in the camps. Press is not allowed entry, in order for reception center staff to concentrate on their primary duty of assisting asylum seekers. The ministry's press statement clarified that access to the other 28 inland accommodation facilities remains unchanged. It also alluded to a "novel method for managing and coordinating journalist visits," but did not elaborate on the practical implications of this new approach.

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of limited access to refugee facilities in Greece, with opaque application processes and arbitrary denials being common.

Local reports suggest that news outlets with close ties to the government enjoy greater access to the camps than critical and independent media. The practice of restricting journalists' access to these facilities began in the autumn of 2020 following the destruction of the Moria refugee camp. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been used as an excuse to limit media access further.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism supports Lydia Emmanouilidou and condemns any action that hampers press freedom and obstructs journalists from reporting on matters of public interest. We urge the Greek government to immediately lift the ban on journalists' access to refugee camps and ensure transparency in the application process. It is vital that all journalists, regardless of their affiliation, have equal opportunities to report on issues affecting vulnerable communities.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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