On October 29th this year, I blogged about the rise in racist violence in Greece. The Hellenic League of Human Rights expressed “deep concern” about a gang of racists who are attacking foreigners (specifically in this case, the Pakistani community in Rendi). I felt anger and sadness and fear that this was happening.
I am shaking right now, having read this (extremely brief) article in Kathimerini today.
A Pakistani man was yesterday in a critical condition in hospital after he and a further seven compatriots were attacked in their rented apartment in Aegaleo by a large group of assailants. The attackers, believed to be Greeks, broke into the apartment and allegedly started beating the Pakistanis with batons and slashing them with knives. All were injured, one seriously. The raid is being treated as a racist attack, the fourth on immigrant homes in the past four months. A lawyer representing the Pakistanis said the attack was part of an organized series of hits, not an isolated incident.
As many of you know, I started this blog because of a racist attack that happened in 1999 when 5 people were killed and four seriously injured when Pantelis Kazakos took to the streets of Omonia (central Athens) and shot people he saw as foreigners. I was asked to speak out about it publicly (which I did) and decided I had to do more than just that. This blog was the result.
Right now I am so angry that people are still denying racism in Greece. Why aren’t more people outraged that this is going on ? How long are we going to ignore this hatred ? How many people have to be killed or injured before we take this seriously ?
WAKE UP
This is now.
This has to stop.
The authorities have to be forced to do something. This goes beyond starting a discussion about racism (which seems to be a non-starter here because denial is the first response). We are talking about people being violently attacked in their homes.
There is no racism in Greece ?
How about you go and talk to the victims ?
Can you imagine the fear that the immigrant population here feels knowing that they could be a target and that nothing is being done to protect them ?
That the police and authorities still refuse to take their allegations seriously ?
That there is no official data on hate crimes so it is easy to ignore that it happens ?
That there is no serious nationwide anti-racist programs in place ?
That there is no serious anti-racist education in schools and colleges ?
That there will be a expression of “shock” that will be forgotten tomorrow because Greece doesn’t really have a problem with racism ?
What else can I say ?
JUST
WAKE
UP
Technorati: greece, racism, racist attack, immigrants, racists
Anti-Racism Rally on March 9th, 2010
Racist Attack on December 17th, 2009
Are Greeks Racist ? on September 29th, 2009
Anti-Immigrant Protest on September 24th, 2009
Racist Attacks on September 10th, 2009
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People ignore/deny that which doesn’t affect them. This is really upsetting to read… I don’t necessarily look foreign and that’s supposed to make it okay that this sort of stuff happens???
People come here for a better life from my country and this is what they get? So who was it that invented democracy again..??
this is terrifying. i am literally terrified. i have always wanted to visit greece, but i think now i would think twice…that could be me getting attacked in my apartment for no reason.
it’s also interesting how, in the second comment here, the blame is being placed on pakistani immigrants for being attacked, because violence is “relatively rampant” in pakistan. the violence is justified because they are used to it? or is ‘appalled’ trying to say that this is an upgrade, and it’s no big deal because there is less violence in greece? either way, the target of blame is being shifted from violent racists in greek and greek society at large and somehow onto pakistan. doesn’t make sense.
Appalled you fool, Pakistan is that way because it is a messed up 3rd world country. What is Greece’s excuse? Typical deflecting instead of admiting this behaviour is not right and is going to ruin the reputation of Greece as a democratic country
Appalled, countries change, change is the only certain thing in life. YEs these things happen on a bigger and worse scale in other countries – consider the UK where these attacks happen in riot form across races or even same race nationalities.
But we don’t live in the UK Pakistan or somewhere else. We live in Greece. This is Greece’s problem. I’m assuming you are Greek – do you as a Greek think this is okay? Do you have any foreign friends? Are you 120% sure of your ancestory? How do you know nobody in your past came to Greece from somewhere else?
Forget the rest of Europe and forget the world. Answer this: Is it okay for this to happen in Greece?
I never cease to be amazed by the ability of Greek people to blame others: in this case, it is apparently the fault of DD [she likes to sound important] and of Pakistan [there is political and civil unrest there] that some Greeks violently attacked immigrants in their own homes. Of course, it is unthinkable that Greeks could do something bad: how could we even think to suggest such a thing? Everyone knows that Greeks are perfect and extremely clever people, who invented the world for us lesser mortals to inhabit.
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I can only marvel at the collective stupidity of people who think like this.
DD, the fact that most of us don’t bother answering to every ancient-loving neonazi troll that seems to have discovered your blog, may give you and other readers the impression that racism-conscious greeks do not exist.
We do exist, but we are too tired to have the elementary school argument about greece being the best country in the world for the millionth time.
I am sorry that our voice is not being heard as often as it should be on this blog. I guess we are just too lazy to respond to people like them, and I am constantly surprised by the fact that you get into conversations with them.
For the record, I am appaled by the racist attacks, and I think they are a direct result of the hate preaching of people like pleuris and his kind.
I still haven’t heard what the outcome of his trial is, and although I don’t trust the lower echelons of the greek justice system at all, the case will go to the appelate courts and eventually the areios pagos, and I am confident that the guy will ultimately get what he deserves. The important thing is that for the first time this issue is going to courts, there is debate about it, and to my eyes this is the beginning of a new era for human rights advocates in greece.
I go away from my blog to do some real life things and there you are, appalled, stalking away. I have told you already, you are not welcome here. Do not post here again. No-one is interested in your racist views
danilena: thank you for speaking out, and it’s good to hear from you. We all seem to make the mistake of taking seriously some people who do not deserve that, and I am aware that this is one of my personal faults. But I find it difficult to ignore racism and neo-Nazi opinions, especially when they are written down and available for all to see.
Danilena you’re completely right.
(“But it’s worse elsewhere” is a lame excuse frequently used as a last resort).
DD: mr. Polidoras, the former minister of the late Public Order ministry (now a department of the Interior Ministry) once famously said that Pakistani immigrants in Greece were abducting each other because it was ‘their national sport’–when in fact many were illegally arrested, questioned and tortured by his men with the supervision of at least one British agent, all for the sake of the holy anti-terrorist effort, of course. I’m curious what outrageous claim they’re going to come up with this time around.
Racist/hate comments is an indicator you’re doing a good job. Congrats
those pakistanis were arrested by EYP and MI5 because they had visited a fucking terrorist training camp in Afghanistan! You expect the security services to give ‘human rights’ to filth like that?
Also. We are full. We cannot have anymore immigrants. Immigrants must leave Greece. Leave us alone and let us get on with our lives, we didnt invite them here!
Hi Steppenwolf,
Yes, I remember that very well. I blogged quite extensively about it and will update there is any more information in the future. The case has disappeared (of course) from the public eye.
By the way, welcome to my blog and thank you for your comments and support.
Has anyone noticed that people on this blog can be divided roughly into two groups? They are the following:
1) “New Left” adherents: they dislike any form of discrimination whether it is against Roma, Chinese, Jews, Pakistanis, homosexuals and so on but except Greeks. Strangely, the working class does not seem to get much consideration – probably because their views are usually socially conservative. These people detest any form of hierarchy whether it is inherited or meritocratic and see man or woman as essentially a “blank slate” socially constructed being – especially when it comes to an ethnic Greek or anyone purporting to be part of a national culture that is not on the favoured list of opressed groups. For example, Roma have distinct traditions inherited from their past. They must be preserved. However, all Greek traditions are simply constructs of usually some dark conspiracy bent on dominating the planet. Therefore, they must be deconstructed and destroyed. These people see the immigrant problem as primarily one of social justice.
2) Globalists: usually of American origin (but sometimes Australian and Canadian): these people love hierarchy as long its economically determined but detest it if the hierarchy is based on inheritance, culture, social capital etc. Essentially, man or woman are “homo-economus” economically constructed beings. They do not care whether one is Roma or Greek or Pakistani, as long as they are productive. They do not have an inherent hatred of Greeks in particular. Ultimately, they expect all cultures and national feelings to melt away because it acts as a friction on business. For these people the immigrant problem is one primarily based on economics i.e. immigrants are needed to power the economy.
Interestingly, both groups do not have much in common apart from uniting on issues such as immigration but their rationale is based on completely different premises. I am sure very clever people have identified this and many other fissures to play wedge politics.
I’m sorry, I don’t fit into either of your groups.
Georgia, there are always exceptions to the rule. There is a smaller group which includes Martin and legein. This group is incredibly intelligent, handsome, sexy, charming and wealthy and does not really need to converse with ordinary people other than to tell them how stupid and inferior they are.
And then there is the Georgia group. You have one whole group named after you. Georgia, you are unique and special.
Legein, don’t forget about my group. I’m in the group that think Greeks are just jealous of America because we do what we do because WE CAN, and that Greeks lack the will or intestinal fortitude to take control of their own destiny and would rather blame everything on America.
Basically the USA has influenced Greece over the last 50 years and our Diva Blog group hopes that it continues indefinitely. If Greek national interest happens to coincide with US interests, than OK.
Well, OK, maybe there’s not a group, it’s probably just a few of us. ALRIGHT, well, maybe it’s just me.
OK, now that you’ve put me on my own I’m happy!
appalled, you have already been told that you are not welcome here. Your offensiveness is exceeded only by your stupidity. Keep to your own filthy and degenerate kind, and leave the normal people here in peace.
It is interesting that you defend the practice of the strategically important phenomenon of predatory migration by Albanians and Islamist’s in Greece.
A predatory migration is when a tribe, a people, or a less formal group swarm into other peoples’ lands for the purpose of taking control. Such migration have featured in history. Hitler’s plan for Poland and Russia was to make a predatory migration. Today Albanians seeking a Greater Albania practice the same tactic.
The migrants and their allies, including yourself, have become skilled at invoking the “appeal to pity”, fallacious logic, and a reliance on exaggerated claims of violations of their human rights and ethnic identity.
I don’t understand why we mix up two separate issues.
1) Immigrants in Greece face racist attacks. We can either recognize this fact (and what is more, try to do something about it) or we can refuse it and try to downplay it using various excuses.
2) Greece has immigration problems. The state should find a solution for these. The attacks won’t solve them.
Joe America: try reading some history of modern Greece. You will find that Greece was founded by Albanian-speaking Christians, along with Greeks, and as late as 1870 the Greek government was claiming in international meetings about the future of the Balkans that there was no such thing as an Albanian… Since 1991, the Albanians in Greece came to work here, not to make war.
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Islamic migration into Greece? What are you talking about?
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The phrase “predatory migration” is one that I have never read or heard in my life. I do not know where you conjured this one up from, but I suggest you explain yourself when you present phrases as if they are accepted.
Legein, you are very funny sometimes. M
Predator migration is an accepted scholarly term. It is used to define Hitler’s “Living Spaces” as well as other irredentist motivated migrations of people across borders.
African migrants are NOT predatory migrants.
Islamist predatory migrants are the Albanians, Pakistani’s and others. I will not accept Albanians and other Isalmist’s since most either have ulterior motives or will support those who do.
Try reading some scholarly journals on the AKSH (Albanian National Army…and its subsets the UCC/UCK/KLA and Al-Qaida narco/sex-traffiking connection. Connect this with what’s going on in Kosovo…as well as with the declared demands of the UCC …also note that Kosovo is an inspiration for other Albanian fascist elements in the Balkans.
You are selective in which fascists you support. You hate the Greek ones, yet apologise for the Albanian/Islamic ones.
Think very carefully before you get on your high horse. In a few hundred years, it could be that India is the new economic haven and say for example Greeks might want to go to work and live there. Why? To spread Orthodox Christianity? To claim India as East Greece? Or could it be that they would simply want to work somewhere they could make a better living and send money back to their families?
In fact, hundreds of thousands of Greeks have already left Greece to find better lives elsewhere. If you are so anti-immigration, have them all sent back to Greece too, remove ALL the immigrants and then sit back and watch the country fall apart as prices rise and pay plumments (who’s going to do the sh*tty low paid immigrant jobs?)
The only crime of these people was to try and find a better life. They should be beaten to within an inch of their lives? My only crime was to fall in love with a Greek. aaah but secretly I *must* have come here to spread my filthy religion, right?
Nobody wants to invade Greece, nobody wants to force Greeks to speak Arabic. Stop being so paranoid! Imagine you were the doctor treating these people, how would you have felt as a Greek that these people were beaten up for no other reason than their skin colour? Would have thought it was fine? Or would you have thought it was a black mark on Greece’s face that racism is on the rise?
What is our crime? Can you tell me? Should I be beaten up too because I am the same race and religion as these guys? Would you like to be the one to tell my fiance that I deserved it and shouldn’t have come here anyway? I can guarantee you, you wouldn’t leave that room in one piece.
I closed comments on the other thread:
against a foreign predator 2007…
oh, good times….
Just out of curiousity. What are Greek nationals attitudes torward Greek Americans? I am second generation Greek American have been to Greece a couple of times and was generally well received ( by others who were not my relitives) by Greek nationals in all the parts of Greece I visted despite the fact I speak broken Greek with an American accent.Although Greeks are not fond of Americans I was still looked upon as a Greek and the locals got a kick out of how us Greek Americans created words combing Greek with English.What interesting was that ethnic non Greek Greek citizens complained about being treated as outsiders even though they are Greek citizens. So my question is do Greeks judge Greekness by blood or by national passport?