Far-right leader speaks on the use of firearms and irregular immigration in the Greek Parliament.

Alert DateMarch 9, 2012 Country: Greece Address: Syntagma square General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Political discourse -parties - orgs Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Political Discourse

Related Case Studies

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age 56-65
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

Following the decline of his popularity and as the date of the forthcoming legislative election approaches, Mr Giorgos Karatzaferis, the leader of the far-right party, LAOS (Nationalist Popular Orthodox Rally), re-seized the issues of insecurity and irregular immigration during a debate in the Greek Parliament.

Mr Karatzaferis called on the Citizens’ Protection Minister, Mr Michalis Chrysochoidis, to relax the law on the use of firearms by both the police and citizens. Mr. Katatzaferis said that “When a robber enters your home or business, you should be able to shoot him" , "police officers should not have to wait to be shot at before being able to fire"  and that “Women are being raped in the street. Crime is coming from everywhere and every day we have new illegal immigrants.”[1] 

In regards to irregular immigration, he called on the Citizens' Protection Minister to use the empty military camps for hosting irregular immigrants. He said on this matter: "Put them in the empty military camps and only those who produce should eat.  The one who comes from Afghanistan must know that he will be trasnfered in military camps if he comes here and will eat only if he works for Greece. A plate of food for Greece" [2].

The Citizens's Protection Minister, Mr Michalis Chrysochoidis, stressed the need to calm and pledged to fight crime. He adde that  ", stressing that "neither taking the law into one's hand, nor the intensity, the fear or terror solve problems" and that "there is an extremely useful and effective legislation regarding the use if arms by the police" [2].

 

Sources:

  1. Kathimerini, 09.03.2012, LAOS leader: Victims should be able to shoot robbers,  http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_09/03/2012_432173, Accessed on 16.03.2012.
  2. To Vima, 09.03.2012, Καρατζαφέρης: Να επιτραπεί η χρήση όπλου από την αστυνομία (Karatzaferis: To permit  weapon use by the police), http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=447640, Accessed on 16.03.2012.
  3. Lifo, 09.03.2012, Ελεύθερη χρήση όπλων από τους αστυνομικούς, ζητά ο Καρατζαφέρης (Free use of weapons by the police, asks Karatzaferis), http://www.lifo.gr/now/politics/7882, Accessed on 16.03.2012.