Racist violence incident at Donauinsel Festival
Mr P. is a Mexican citizen and works as an ambulance man in Austria. In June he is at the Donauinsel Festival with friends whom he loses among the crowds. He does not know the city very well and asks two police officers the way to the nearest underground station. One of the officers replies in an extremely aggressive tone, insults him and threatens to arrest him. Mr P. points out that he doesn’t want to be treated in such a way. Thereon the officers start to push him, pull him to the ground and inflict injuries on him. They handcuff him, pull him to a police container and afterwards they take him by car to a police station. On the way to the police station they abuse and violate him again. At the police station Mr P. is briefly questioned but no longer beaten or verbally abused. Shortly before two o‘clock he is allowed to leave the police station. The commandant gives him the service numbers of the two officers. On the following Sunday Mr P. goes to Meidling Casualty Hospital due to pain and injuries on his body. Several injuries are diagnosed and he is given painkilling tablets and prescribed ointments. Mr P. receives a fine order for aggressive behaviour towards the police officers and should pay a fine of 140 Euros.
The NGO ZARA appeals against the fine and draws up a description of the circumstances of the case for Mr P. to send to the Public Prosecution Service. The public prosecutor declines the complaint for lack of evidence. Mr P. is charged with residence against police officer. Two years later, at the beginning of 2008, Mr P. is acquitted finally.
Source: ZARA Report 2009, available at: http://www.zara.or.at/materialien/rassismus-report/racism-report-2006.pdf, Date of access: 2011-10-30. Amnesty International (2009): Österreich Opfer oder Verdächtige. Eine Frage der Hautfarbe. Wien, available at: http://www.amnesty-polizei.de/d/wp-content/uploads/berichtpolizeiaustriadtsch0409.pdf, Date of access: 2011-10-30.
