Greece: Wave of Racist Attacks on Immigrants in Athens

Greece: Wave of Racist Attacks on Immigrants in Athens

In the past days, right-wing extremists in Athens, Greece have launched pogrom-like attacks on immigrants in the downtown Athens area. It began on May 10, 2011, one day after a 44-year old escorting his pregnant wife to the hospital was mugged and stabbed to death.

There is no evidence as to the identity of the killers, but racist gangs have gone on something like vengeance spree on immigrants -or even foreign-looking Greeks- who they hold generally responsible for rising crime and unemployment in Greece.

A protest against the killing of the expectant father on May 10, in the same location where the mugging happened, drew a crowd of hundreds that eventually led to the attacks.

Dozens of people have been injured in the past days, and there has also been one death, which is still being investigated for motive. There has been a marked increase in incidents of violence against immigrants and asylum-seekers in Greece in recent years, but this degree of openly racist violence in the streets is unprecedented.

Twitter has erupted with reactions from citizens.

Media reports

Media professional @doleross provided live news coverage of the attacks on immigrants following the protest around 18:00 on May 10.

@doleross [5]: “” 3 44. #rbnews [6]
@doleross: Demonstrators against killing of 44-year old are on immigrant “manhunt” on September III Street. Riot police appeared.
@doleross [7]: MEGA : 3 . . . #rbnews [6]
@doleross: MEGA TV now: Right wing extremists on September III Street, beating and chasing immigrants, even into their homes. Police not intervening.
@doleross [8]: “” , “” .#rbnews [6]
@doleross: Reports that “vigilante” squads are scouring areas of Athens and other municipalities, “seeking” immigrants.

Greek expats summarized the distressing news. Film producer Yanni Koutsomytis tweeted in English:

@YanniKouts [9]: Racial violence erupts in downtown Athens following killing of a 44-yr Greek man. Ultra-right groups indiscriminately attack immigrants now
Greek new media theorist Nikos Smyrnaios observed in French:
@smykos [10]: Grèce, une société au bord de l'implosion: un homme assassiné sauvagement à Athènes => des extrémistes racistes pourchassent des immigrés.
@smykos: Greece, a society about to implode: a man savagely assassinated in Athens => racist extremists chase immigrants.

Eyewitness reports

Eyewitness reports of attacks on immigrants between 19:00 and 21:00 were sparse, but dramatic:
@nsyll [13]: http://twitpic.com/4vypvc [12]
@nsyll: They're chasing everyone a bit dark http://twitpic.com/4vypvc
@potmos [14]: 1-2 “”
@potmos:They're smashing 1-2 shops of “foreigners” now, in Acharnon Street
@bezesteni [15]: 50 ´ . .
@bezesteni: About 50 fascists and middle-aged onlookers, Ipirou and September III Street. Several youths wearing red and black in Acharnon Street and adjacent alleys
@zairacat [16]: damage control: .
@zairacat: damage control: have been told many beaten immigrants admitted to hospitals on call.

The wave of racist attacks in Athens continued the following days, with one killing of an immigrant man possibly linked to racial motives [17] [el], arson attacks [18] [el] and a second anti-migrant pogrom following a protest [19] [el].

Reactions on Twitter

Sharply divided, the Greek twittersphere reacted to the news of he lethal mugging and the racist violence that followed with a mixture of outrage, apprehension and resignation.
The media were also blamed by many for inflaming racial hatred.
@doleross [20]: “” : « “”» #rbnews [6]
@doleross: Irresponsible articles by “news” portals fanning the flames, with titles like “Fears of new ‘December riots'”
@radicalalchemist [21]: : “ ” ?
@radicalalchemist: SKAI (TV channel): “CCTV footage shows assailants are Moroccans or Algerians” Cameras identifying people now?
@Cyberela [22]: .
@Cyberela: They'll now blame it on the migration wave from Middle East and North Africa
A distressing allegation was made by Constantinos Alexacos:
@constantnos [23]: blogs . …
@constantnos: Alleged police and right-wing blogs have been warning for months about setting up militias. No one cared…

Some Twitter users pointed out core issues engendering violence in the city center. The demographics of entire housing blocks have changed, as right-wing groups have mounted more anti-immigrant campaigns.

@Anastasialadiab [24]:
@Anastasialadiab: How foolish are those who believe that immigrants are to blame for the degradation of Athens downtown, and not those who drove away the permanent residents.
And urged authorities to react to the growing humanitarian crisis facing Athens [25]:
@mao_tse_tung [26]: . !
@mao_tse_tung: today's tragic crime can provide excellent motivation in an attempt to change things. Wake up, Mayor!

While others mused on the self-perpetuating nature of violence:

@nsyll [27]:
@nsyll: when you answer violence with violence, you've surely lost all rights of recourse to humanity

Article printed from Global Voices: http://globalvoicesonline.org
URL to article: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/05/13/greece-wave-of-racist-attacks-on-immigrants-in-athens/

A man injured in racist attack after protest in Athens, 12 May 2011. Photo by Epoca Libera, copyright Demotix.

ENDS

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