Tag Archive for 'repression'

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more racist assaults and attacks….

Published on December 17, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

As reported by different antiracist groups, the around 140 Afghans and Pakistanis living and working in Timbaki, Crete, experience for a long period repeated racist assaults by a group of 10-15 fascists. The fascists threaten them telling them to not only leave Crete but also Greece.

Greek news

Meanwhile, during the court case of the 16th December against the marines who were shouting racist slogans last year another group of 10 fascists was attacking migrants who were simply passing by in the area close to the court in Piraeus.

indymedia in greek

Refugee and main witness of the murder by a coast guard arrested

Published on December 4, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , .

The Greek police arrested a refugee who is main witness of a murder case, where a coast guard officer from Igoumenitsa is being accused of murdering another refugee.

Sali is a Kurdish Refugee with serious health problems (he has only one lung) and he is the main witness for a murder case, where Greek coast guard shot Arivan, another migrant, to death in the port city of Igoumenitsa. He has to participate in the court case as witness on the 16th of December. Anyway, he was arrested on the 2nd of December in Crete. Originally the police was called to his place by neighbours for some small argument, but when they found the call to the court in his flat which clearly says that he is a witness against the coast guard he was immediately arrested, badly beaten and brought to the public prosecutor who ordered an administrative deportation for Sali. This police action was clearly a revenge. Sali was released on the 3rd, while his brother and another sans-papiers, both arrested together with Sali, remained in prison with the aim of their deportation.

Sources:
Indymedia Athens in August 2011 (in greek)
Indymedia Athens August 2011 (in greek)
Indemedia Athens December 2011 (in greek)

Severe Maltreatment of Sans-Papiers in Detention by the Greek Police, 14th of November

Published on November 20, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , .

Two detained Kurds from Iraq were severely maltreated, even tortured while they were in detention on remand. It began in the detention facilities of the appeals court and culminated in the cellar of Petrou Ralli aliens police detention. Guard from Koridallos prison where the detained victims were finally brought to became witnesses of the last beating in Petrou Ralli and of the highly injuries marking the bodies of the two Kurds.

The beatings began upon an argument the detainees had in the court with some guarding officers who had insulted them. They were brought into a room and beaten by a dozen of officers. Then instead of being transferred back to Koridallos prison they were brought to Petrou Ralli Aliens Police Directorate. In the cellar of the building the beatings continued. They were jumping on his back, stepping on their necks and on their face and spitting into their mouths. One of the officers hold his gun on one of the two sans-papiers and said: “I will kill you like a dog!”
One of the two sans-papiers fainted and had to be transferred to hospital of the prison. He was all covered with blood. Due to insufficient medical treatment possibilities he was transferred to the hospital “Red Cross”. On his own will he decided not to stay there fearing the police officers who were guarding him there. Both guards and the director of the prison reported the maltreatment to the authorities. The brutal incident is being currently researched by the internal affairs department of the police. Both of the victims reported their maltreatment.
http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&art_id=107249&catid=3
http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.ellada&id=327322

Violence and repression in Patra

Published on October 14, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

Press Release by the Solidarity Group in Patras concerning the increased violence against migrants and refugees in the area around the new port in Patras, 13th of October 2011:
Press Release (in English)
Press Release (in Greek)

Statement by the Afghan Association “Bahar”:

Since March 2011 the Afghan refugees in Patra have created the association „bahar“ (English: „spring“) with the aim to help each other to integrate into the Greek society in an atmosphere of friendship and harmony with the locals.
Unfortunately, within the last five months we have seen an increase in incidents of violence by the authorities against us Afghan refugees. Everyday Afghans report to us of violent attacks with severe injuries. The victims have attestations of the hospitals to prove these. This brutal strategy of the authorities constitutes a harsh human rights violation and in any case is no solution for the migration issue in Patras whatsoever.
The association of Afghans in Patra “Bahar” has started to raise this issue of violence in public. We will stand at the side of all victims and we will take also legal measures to report these human rights violations.

Press Release: Solidarity group Patras, 27th of September 2011

Published on September 28, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , .

Against the repressive measures of the authorities who in the most violent way show their “law and order” approach towards the issue of migration in Patras:

Press Release by the solidarity group in Patras (in English)

The police reacted to the denouncing press release by stating that if there were incidents of police violence against migrants then the solidarity group should file charges against them at the public prosecutor. Meanwhile the authorities are well aware of how difficult this is. However, only documented migrants can file charges while most of the refugees and migrants in Patras are in transit and without legal residence permits. The few among them with valid papers are often too afraid of taking legal measures against the authorities. Another difficulty arises from the long duration of judicial proceedings. Most of the migrant victims and witnesses leave Greece before the date of the court case is reached.

see also news (in Greek)

Horrible video: greek fascist from the “golden dawn” publishes proudly material showing his assaults on the civil society

Published on September 21, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , .

May 2011: greek news video of fascists attacking a migrants shop leaving behind a huge destruction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBhU8vTJ7M0&feature=related

We demand from the Greek authorities to react on and punish the continuing racist and fascist attacks
NO MORE SILENCE!

For more information see a greek documentary from 2009 on the fascist group golden dawn (in Greek)
part 1

Continue reading ‘Horrible video: greek fascist from the “golden dawn” publishes proudly material showing his assaults on the civil society’

Letter by the Afghan Community: Concerning racist attacks in Athens

Published on September 19, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

On the 18th of September the Afghan Community of Greece sent a letter to the Prime Ministers’ office in order to inform him of the continuing racist attacks against refugees and migrants in Athens and demanding for an immediate intervention by the authorities. The letter was a reaction to a huge number of racist attacks in the last three years, specifically, the last violent aggression of the beginning of August. Three persons had attacked an Afghan asylum seeker with a knife leaving him behind with severe injuries. A witness reported the racist attack and filed charges against the aggressors. The trial is going to be at the 27th September. It is one of the rare occasions when victims of racist attacks actually step away from their fear in order to report the violent act against them. It is also one of the rare incidents when the police actually accepted to register the report of a racist attack.

One of the most fatal results of the race motivated attacks is that they divide us as human beings when we need unity and solidarity the most. In the middle of the financial crisis, immigrants are able to contribute up to a level, promoting Greece abroad and taking part in the financial activity of the country. Racism can become a serious threat to the coexistence of cultures and social progress.

Read the letter in

english
greek

read the press release by the UNHCR (in greek)
PR UNHCR

another two racist attacks in Athens

Published on September 13, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , .

12th September 2011

I would like to tell you about my sad day. I want to let you know how much I suffer and how blood-shat over me painfully during the tragedy that happened to me. I am alone, helpless, justice-less and with the absolute violation of my humanity. I was attacked by five persons today. When I was going to my work they beat me without any reason. I shouted for help but nobody responded. Continue reading ‘another two racist attacks in Athens’

Fire in refugees’ home in patras

Published on September 12, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Around the 8th of September unknown people set fire on a barack where asylum seekers were temporarily living in the transit-port of Patras.

As A., an Eritrean refugee reported:

I have been homeless in Athens. I have been homeless in Patras. I have been homeless in Igoumenitsa. I applied for asylum. Now I am again homeless in Patras. I live on the beach and in ruins. Police is hunting us every day.
A few days ago somebody lit fire on the ruin we were living in. I think it was the racists. Everything burned. All our belongings. My AFM (tax number), my work permit, my clothes. Everything. I am left now only with my Pink Card (asylum seekers temporary residence permit) but what is it worth? What can it do for me? I am still homeless and unprotected.

Transit in Patras


Following a number of police raids in the last months, currently, there are very few sans-papiers and asylum seekers left in Patras. The ones who have remained suffer, as K. from Somalia tells us:

“I only stay here because I don’t have any other place to go! There is no chance to leave from here for Italy. Very very few manage. The new port is very dangerous. Police is hunting and beating us, they even have dogs. My Pink Card got tear up by my former employer who didn’t want to pay me for the work I did. Now it is almost one month that I am only with a copy of my Pink Card. They say, I cannot get a new one if I don’t have an address in Patras, but where should I get it from? Two days ago a police control arrested me. I asked them to go and catch the copy of my Pink Card, but they didn’t let me go. I was in prison for two days. I am understanding more and more about this country. Nothing good to tell!”

I came here to Greece in order to save my life, now, they took even my body away from me

Published on September 4, 2011 in Uncategorized. Closed Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Patras, August 2011

Two refugees from Sudan talk about their lives in an emptied city. Patra has been the second exit-port after Igoumenitsa that the greek police raided in 2011. In the center of the city one cannot see any immigrants anymore. In repeated sweep operations the authorities destroyed a number of provisory housing sites and arrested hundreds of sans-papiers. In the summer of 2011 only very few refugees remained at the rims of the city marginalised and displaced.

Continue reading ‘I came here to Greece in order to save my life, now, they took even my body away from me’