On February 19, 2025, unknown assailants assaulted Sotiris Notaris, the chair of the mathematics department at the University of Athens and vandalized his office.

The chair was conducting an oral exam with a student at the time of the attack. Around a dozen hooded men broke in and threw paint and eggs at him and around his office. Photos of the office show paint splattered on the wall, a smashed computer, and paper strewn about the office. According to Notaris, the attack may have been connected to a prior incident during which he called police to intervene in an occupation of a canteen on campus.

Faculty members in the department refused to teach the next two days demanding better security on the campus. Classes returned to normal on February 21.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent attacks on a faculty member, as well as destructive attacks on campus property, apparently intended to prevent the functioning of a higher education institution. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to such attacks, including by holding perpetrators accountable, in accordance with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, violent, targeted attacks on scholars undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1262214/campus-attack-highlights-security-lapses/
https://www.esos.gr/node/92140/printable/print
https://www.esos.gr/arthra/92113/koykoyloforoi-ekanan-kalokairino-grafeio-toy-proedroy-toy-tmimatos-mathimatikon-toy
https://www.alfavita.gr/ekpaideysi/469973_eisboli-koykoyloforon-sto-ekpa-epithesi-sto-grafeio-toy-proedroy-toy-tmimatos