Greek Authorities Unleash Wave of Repression against Immigrants

Reports coming out of Greece over the last few days indicate that the recent social upheaval has seen a wave of violence and racism against immigrants by the police and the courts. The unrest, say Greek immigrant rights groups, has been used as an excuse for multiple arrests of immigrants, threats of deportation, beatings and mass transportations to police stations.

According to a statement released by Group of Migrants and Refugees based in Thessaloniki, in Athens alone more than 50 immigrants have been sent to trial in flagrante delicto on the basis of ludicrously trivial accusations. The general picture, according to Clandestina.org, a website managed by the organisation, is one of express trials, no legal representation, no access to interpreters and a pre-decided charge of 18 months’ imprisonment followed by deportation. Most of those arrested were apprehended on the streets and not inside shops; some were found in possession of looted wares, some were not. In one characteristic case, an immigrant was charged with robbery while he insisted that the single cellphone he was found carrying was actually his own. He was imprisoned and is awaiting deportation. In a separate incident, an immigrant was arrested for carrying a cellphone charger. He was also sent to prison and will be deported.

In Athens, Patras and other cities, police, para-State groups and fascists seized the opportunity to organise “pogroms" against immigrants. According to Elias Ahmed, representative of the Union of Bangladeshi Workers: "In the last days extremist nationalists have been ambushing immigrants' meeting places. Most immigrants return home late at night, since they work in restaurants or do other evening jobs, and wherever the nationalists find them, they beat them up and terrorise them."

The representative of the Afghan Community Zacher Mahmat issued a statement saying, among other things: "Two nights ago at Attiki Square 4 or 5 Syrians were beaten up. They were attacked by a group of 10 to 15…Everyday policemen beat up immigrants".

The police are using the lootings and unrest as an excuse for multiple arrests of immigrants, threats of deportation, beatings and mass transportations to police stations. According to eyewitnesses, in Omonoia Square on Monday evening police were beating up immigrants for hours on end and dragging them to the nearby police station to be held (It should be noted that the Omonoia police station is notorious for its brutality).

Meanwhile, Interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos – also head of the Greek Police (a post from which he publicly announced he wanted to resign, expecting that the prime minister would never accept his resignation) – is zealously carrying on with his own business. On Friday, he and Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy Minister Anastasis Papaligouras signed a declaration for the supply of equipment with the European agency FRONTEX, responsible for coordinating efforts to curb illegal immigration into Europe, at the former public order ministry with the executive director of FRONTEX Ilkka Laitinen. In other words, FRONTEX is congratulating the Greek police and coast guard for doing a good job and is offering them more arms and equipment…As minister Pavlopoulos proudly stated: "This initiative was taken by the Greek prime minister, and after this FRONTEX could eventually evolve into an organisation like Europol…I warmly thank Mr. Laitinen that the greatly successful NEPTUNE Operation [by FRONTEX], which was so important to us, was given an extension until March 1, 2009". Ilkka Laitinen returned the compliments by especially thanking the "Greek Police and the Greek Coast Guard for their cooperation".