A Bulgarian female worker and trade unionist attacked with sulphuric acid

Alert DateDecember 22, 2008 Country: Greece Address: Troon str, Petralona General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Bulgarian
Victims Gender Female
Victims Age 36-45
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 2
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

On 22.12.2008, Konstantina Kuneva, a Bulgarian migrant worker in Athens and trade unionist, secretary of the Union of Domestic Workers and Cleaners of Attica was attacked with sulfuric acid in front of her home by two yet unidentified men. She was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition with burns on her face, head, hands, back and internal organs, and loss of her sight in one eye and serious deterioration of the other eye. A prosecutor probing the acid attack has shifted his attention to companies that contract out cleaning jobs, since the results of a preliminary investigation reportedly suggest widespread transgressions in the sector.
The lawyers representing Kuneva, claimed that the police bungled their investigation into the assault. Allegedly, police wasted valuable time in the days immediately after the attack because they focused their inquiries on Kuneva’s friends and family, believing the incident to be a crime of passion, rather than treating it as an attempt to murder Kuneva because of her unionist activity. The unprecedented incident caused a wave of solidarity by civil society for the financial support of Kuneva and public pressure for the prosecution of the perpetrators, while the issue of working conditions, underpayment and exploitation of domestic workers came into focus and awareness in the public debates, leading also to reconsideration of subcontracting cleaning services in the public sector. According to the ECRI fourth report on Greece, ‘the Greek authorities have informed ECRI that despite a thorough investigation, they have not yet apprehended the assailants. However, the authorities have informed ECRI that they have taken measures to support Ms Kuneva, such as offering a house to her family.

 

Source:
Kathimerini, 14/02/2009, http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100008_14/02/2009_104720

Clandestinenglish.com, 26.12.2008, http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/konstantina-kuneva-attacked-with-acid/

Bulgarian News Network, 28.12.2008, http://www.bgnewsnet.com/story.php?lang=en&sid=23527

Kathimerini, 12.03.2009, http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_12/03/2009_105448

Industrial Workers of the World, 29.12.2008, http://www.iww.org.au/node/604

Amnesty International, 07.03.2009, http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/greece-investigate-attack-trade-union-leader

SKAI TV Documentary:

Part 1, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dMm5MYKrE8&feature=related

Part 2, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mXfHf3NXsk&feature=related

Part 3, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dMm5MYKrE8&feature=related

Part 4, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaVfl1bsCKo&feature=related