Palestinian journo in Greece gagged for refugee reports

By Sultan Cogalan

ANKARA (AA) – A Palestinian journalist in Greece who highlighted the plight of Syrian refugees there was detained by authorizes for five months before being released last month, her father said Saturday.

Reports by Emel Faoor, 26, on the difficulties faced by refugees in camps caught the attention of the Greek authorities who exiled her from Kos Island to Leros Island, her father wrote in an article for the Turkish newspaper Dirilis Postasi.

Ayman Khaled wrote that the crimes against humanity in the refugee camps in Greece were as bad as war crimes in Syria.

The pair had been staying in the Yarmouk camp -- the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria -- when their house was completely destroyed in attacks.

After fleeing the war in Syria, they initially went to Turkey before leaving for Greece two years later.

While in Greece, Faoor wrote about the hardships refugees endure and the physical violence, insults and humiliation they face.

There is racism in Greece against refugees, and Greeks utter very bad words about them, she wrote in one of her reports.

Detailing the difficulties refugees face trying to access health care services, she wrote that there are no specialist doctors assigned to help refugees.

Children are amongst the most vulnerable and lack needed vaccination and milk and, while it is challenging to get even the simplest medical help, police requite a number of health insurance documents, according to Faoor’s reports, which said inadequate staple food products supplied to refugees are also a problem.

Faoor is currently sick but Greek hospitals has denied her health care, according to father wrote.

He said she left Greece on Sept. 6 and is looking for another place in Europe to settle.