For the trial of St. Panteleimon Police Department policemen indicted for torture

On December 2, 2009 two Athens police officers will be appear before the Criminal Court of First Instance, accused of, among other things, breach of Article 137 A (torture) of the Penal Code for the compelling case that saw the light of day in December 2004.

It was an incident of wild police brutality and extreme violations of human rights, aimed at a large number of Afghan refugees, including seven minors. In an "informal" search for a fellow Afghan, who escaped while being transported to Court, a group of police men and special guards unleashed a manhunt with repeated raids on homes where Afghans lived, hitting indiscriminately and torturing the occupants in order to obtain information as to the escapee’s location. Additionally, two Afghans were taken to the St. Panteleimon Police Department for the same reason, where they were systematically tortured.

These events took place from the 14th to the 16th December 2004. After the second day of raids, the victims addressed themselves to non-governmental organizations and groups involved in the protection of refugees and immigrants, in order to report the events and to be protected from extreme police violence. These organizations and groups were mobilized immediately, during which time the violations were recorded and the alleged torture and inhuman and degrading treatment suffered by the victims was examined by specialized personnel of the Torture Victims Rehabilitation Medical Center.

The intensity, nature and the systematic abuse used in this "operation", attracted the attention of the media, shocked the public and led to the intervention of the appropriate Prosecutor and Administrative Authority for investigating the events. Ultimately, charges were made against a police officer and a special guard "who without orders willingly undertook acts of interrogation and  punishment of an alleged crime continuously and continuous unprovoked bodily harm”.

The importance of the case for the defense of human rights and the promotion of safety of law in our country is obvious, particularly since the implementation of the provisions of the Penal Code which punishes torture as a felony is rare.

The heinous acts committed by police officers in December 2004 are added to the list of a series of violations against people, who have in common a precarious legal residence status in Greece and nationality from specific countries. Also characteristic of these attacks was a sense of impunity of the perpetrators, as shown by the three-day operation and the large number of victims.

The Organizations and groups signing the press release, defend the rights of victims and any other persons to human dignity and personal safety, regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex, political beliefs.

Athens, 30/11/2009

 
Greek Council for Refugees

Network for the Social Support to Refugees and Migrants

Greek Union for Human Rights

Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims

Group of Lawyers for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants