Racist tweet of the Greek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou about African immigrants

Alert DateJuly 22, 2012 Country: Greece Address: Athens General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Afrophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Africans/black people Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Internet Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Social media (Twitter, Facebook etc.)

Related Policy Responses

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Female
Perpetrator Age 18-25
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Greek triple jumper and member of the Greek olympic team, Paraskevi Papachristou, has posted a racist comment on her tweeter account about African immigrants. She wrote: "With so many Africans in Greece... the West Nile mosquitoes will at least eat homemade food!!!" [1]. 

Papachristou's racist tweet, as well as her previous retweets of links to videos promoting the views of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, raised much criticism on conventional and social media.

Papachristou has apologised for the "unfortunate and tasteless joke", but the Greek Olympic Committee finally decided to expel her from the Greek Olympic team [2].

Sources:

  1. The Independent, 25.07.2012, Greek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou withdrawn from Olympics following racist tweet about African immigrants, http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/greek-triple-jumper-paraskevi-papachristou-withdrawn-from-olympics-following-racist-tweet-about-african-immigrants-7976442.html, Accessed on 26.07.2012.
  2. BBC, 25.07.2012, Greek Olympian Papachristou expelled for 'racist tweet', http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18987678, Accessed on 26.07.2012.