Brutal beating of a young Roma by a secret police agent in front of the victim's parents

Alert DateAugust 14, 2009 Country: Greece Address: Lefkada General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 4
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In the afternoon of 14th August, four policemen (who didn't show their badges) brutally and without any provocation abused a Roma youth and his mother during a "papers please" ID check (in Greece everyone has to carry a police ID card).

His parents were asking the policemen to cease beating their son, but the latter answered by swearing at them and threatening them. The youth and his parents were taken by the policemen to the local police station, where they immobilised the youth and cleansed his blood with water. He was then taken to the hospital where the medical doctor refused to describe his findings on a paper, even though the youth was asking for it repeatedly. The policemen let the youth free after one and a half hour, after he was made to sign papers he couldn't read where he was accepting guilt. His parents intented to sue the Police.


Source:

Indymedia, 18.08.2009, http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1068696