Today, Tuesday, May 20, marks five years since the vitriol attack suffered by Ioanna Paliospyrou on the ground floor of the apartment building in Kallithea, where the office she worked at was located. On this anniversary, Ioanna Paliospyrou made a deeply emotional post on Instagram, expressing the profound pain and psychological damage that still remain a part of her life.

In her personal message shared with her online followers, she chose to post two photos of herself before the attack, showing what her face looked like before the acid scarred her body and life. Reflecting on the physical and emotional trauma she carries, and the fact that she could have died, Ioanna wrote in the caption of her post:
“Five years have passed and I still can’t believe it. It feels like a lie. It will never make sense to me. I almost died for nothing. I have suffered so much, so unfairly. I’ve said I don’t dwell on the ‘Why me?’ But just for today, I’ll make an exception. So much violence, so much envy… why?”

She went on to say that she misses her old self—the way she was before the attack—yet emphasized that regardless of everything, she loves and honors that self:
“I miss what was familiar to me, what was mine, and most of all, the carefree spirit of my soul. How can one erase trauma? Does anyone know how to turn back time? Right now, I need these ten minutes for myself. I love you. I honor you. I miss you.”

The Shocking Acid Attack
On May 20, 2020, the news that a 34-year-old woman was attacked with vitriol on her way to work in Kallithea shocked the entire nation. On September 15, 2021, Ioanna Paliospyrou appeared in court for the first time since the attack. Wearing a special white face mask, a white hat, and medical bandages on her hands, she arrived as crowds gathered outside to show support.

Efi Kakarantzoula, the woman who carried out the attack, was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison for the crime of attempted murder. Ioanna Paliospyrou continues to undergo medical treatments both in Greece and abroad in her effort to restore her health.