Ill-treatment of immigrants by police officers in Piraeus and Athens

Alert DateJanuary 12, 2006 Country: Greece Address: Athens General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Pakistani
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 2
Fatalities - deaths 1
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Police officers were reported to be responsible for ill-treatment of immigrants in Piraeus and Athens.

- Athens: An Iraqi immigrant has died due to heart attack in the police department right after his eviction by an old house in the center of Athens.

- Nikaia, Piraeus: Group Z police officers have allegedly beaten a national from Bangladesh on 12 May. Two MPs of the Greek Communist Party have asked from the Minister of Public Order to punish the officers. Men of the group Z in Nikaia (a suburb of Piraeus) mistreated Dorei Shohid when the latter tried to arrest him because he was reportedly acting suspiciously. Shohid was first transferred to the hospital and then to the police station, from where he was released since there were no charges against him. The MPs have also asked from the Minister to adopt measures in order to prevent similar acts of police violence.

- Athens: A police officer member of the special guards’ corps was arrested by the Police Internal Affairs Directorate. According to numerous complaints by the Pakistani community the officer was stealing telephone cards (SIM and prepaid calling cards) from immigrants in the Centre of Athens during routine police checks at their gathering areas of Menandrou and Sofokleous Str.

Source:

Network of Social Support to Immigrants and Refugees, 12.01.2006

Rizospastis, 01.06.2006

UNCHR Greece, 02.06.2006, Press review on migrant and refugee issues -Athens

Eleftherotipia, 19.09.2006,  http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=112,id=72998804