You do not want to get caught taking unauthorized photos in Greece.
Olivier Jobard, an award-winning French photographer working for SIPA Press agency, was arrested and beaten on July 4 for taking photos of a port in the Greek town of Patras. He was working on a story about immigration and didn’t have a permit to photograph the port, which is required by Greek law, although he had been shooting the previous day – and had been stopped twice by guards and allowed to continue.
From the Reporters Without Borders release:
When Jobard was unable to produce a permit, the guard escorted him to a public toilet, pushed him inside, handcuffed him and hit him several times in the face. He then pulled out a knife, cut the strap of Jobard’s camera, threw the camera to the ground and smashed it with his foot.
Reporters Without Borders fully acknowledges Jobard’s need for a permit but condemns the use of violence. Agreed … anyone with half a brain would say it sounds excessive and unnecessary.
Jobard has filed a complaint against the police for assault and battery, meanwhile the Greek media has apparently come out against Jobard, criticizing him while only relaying the “official” (i.e., government) version of the story.
