Police slammed for ‘abusive’ migrant sweeps
Greece cannot afford and it should by no means have to go through yet another period of political instability. It is inconceivable that the country could enter a fresh cycle of political instability because of the government’s decision to – temporarily – shut down national broadcaster ERT. The three-party coalition government must push on with the necessary reforms that will tilt the cashstrapped country back onto the track of growth. If this is to happen, of course, the government will have to break some eggs too. It would also mean that the three political leaders involved in the power-sharing administration would have to leave their old partisan habits behind. Neither the same old footdragging nor a new general election are remedies for the country’s problems. The only path open to the government trio, as well as to the nation, is the path of stability and determination. This is something that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras appears to have finally grasped. Hopefully, his partners in the coalition will do the same. Greek authorities must review the procedures of an extensive crackdown on suspected irregular immigrants, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday, criticizing police sweeps as abusive and ineffective.
The allegations were made during a presentation of a new report, “Unwelcome Guests: Greek Police Abuses of Migrants in Athens,” which highlights invasive police checks and arbitrary detentions under operation Xenios Zeus.
The 52-page report documents frequent police checks of individuals with a foreign-looking appearance, unjustified searches of personal belongings, derogatory verbal language and occasional physical abuse. According to the study, tens of thousands are held at police stations pending verification of their legal status.
“There is definite lack of training which gives rise to discrimination from police,” said Eva Cosse, a Greece expert at HRW and rapporteur.
Almost 85,000 foreigners were forcibly taken to police stations for verification of their immigration status between last August, when Xenios Zeus was launched, and this February, according to police figures cited in the report.
“However, 94 percent of those detained had a legal right to be in Greece,” said Veronika Szente Goldston, Europe and Central Asia advocacy director for HRW, suggesting that police are casting their net too far and too wide.