Romanian journalist assaulted, called ‘kike’

(JTA) — The prime minister of Romania has instructed authorities to investigate an apparent anti-Semitic assault on a journalist in Bucharest.

According to a statement by the MCA Romania, The Center for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism in Romania, Prime Minister Victor Ponta gave the order in connection with an incident which happened on May 17 to Mircea Marian, a journalist with the national daily newspaper Evenimentul Zilei.

The journalist was pushed around by a man who called him “Jidan,” Romanian for “kike,” according to reports. In an interview he gave after the incident, Marian said he is not Jewish but Orthodox Christian.

Romanian authorities said a criminal investigation for public assault was opened against the alleged aggressor.

Police believed the attacker was Mihai Voicu, 61, who described himself as a “revolutionary” who does not agree with the views expressed by Marian, according to a report on EVZ.ro, the online site of the Evenimentul Zilei daily where Marian works.