Sunday, September 30, 2012

Racist attacks on Imam's home and to Pakistani workers in Athens


A group of Greek men attacked the home of the Imam of the Pakistani Community in the Sepolia area, injuring one person. Meanwhile in the Eleusis area, another group of five men attacked two Pakistani migrants, seriously injuring at least one of them.




Shahbaz Sintiki, the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, pictured here at his home after it was attacked by a group of five men.

Shahbaz Sintiki the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece as seen through the broken blinds of his window caused by the attackers.

Shahbaz Sintiki the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece as seen through the broken blinds of his window caused by the attackers.

Shahbaz Sintiki, the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, pictured here at his home after it was attacked by a group of five men.

Shahbaz Sintiki, the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, pictured here at his home after it was attacked by a group of five men.

Shahbaz Sintiki the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece as seen at his attacked home.

Shahbaz Sintiki, the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, pictured here at his home after it was attacked by a group of five men talking with Javied Aslam, who is the President of the Pakistan Community in Greece.

Shahbaz Sintiki, the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, pictured here at his home after it was attacked by a group of five men.

Sayed Hosein Abbas, a Pakistani migrant in Greece, lies injured in hospital after he was attacked by a group of five Greek men.

Sayed Hosein Abbas, a Pakistani migrant in Greece, lies injured in hospital after he was attacked by a group of five Greek men.

Sayed Hosein Abbas, a Pakistani migrant in Greece, lies injured in hospital after he was attacked by a group of five Greek men.

A group of Greek men attacked the home of the Imam of the Pakistani Community in the Sepolia area, injuring one person. Meanwhile in the Eleusis area, another group of five men attacked two Pakistani migrants, seriously injuring at least one of them.
A group of Greek men attacked the home of the Imam of the Pakistani Community in the Sepolia area, injuring one person. Meanwhile in the Eleusis area, another group of five men attacked two Pakistani migrants, seriously injuring at least one of them.
Until now announcements about the facts have been made by the Movement "United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat" on the following links (in Greek language):
http://www.antiracismfascism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=553
http://www.antiracismfascism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=554
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Update (October 1, 2012)
Racist attack on Imam's home
On a press conference given by the Movement "United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat", on Monday October 1, 2012, Shahbaz Sintiki, who is the Imam of the Pakistani Community in Greece, said among other things the following :
On Saturday, September 29 at midnight a group of ten - twelve men shouting fascist slogans attacked his home located in the Sepolia area of Athens. The attackers disrupted the whole neighborhood by shouting abusive slogans against immigrants and threatening. They broke down both the main door of the house and a window and they destroyed a room door.
At the moment of the attack, Imam was away from his home. But his housemates were sleeping in the home: Habib Ulah, 20 years old and Mohammad Navid who was injured with a bat.
Other residents from the neighborhood called the police, and asked the police who arrived immediately to persecute and arrest the attackers.
The attackers were still nearby.
But surprisingly Police stayed in the area, and arrested the two victims of the attack to check their papers in the Police Department of St. Panteleimon!
After Imam Shahbaz Sintiki was notified of what has happened to his home and realized that Police are not searching for the attackers, he went the police station of St. Panteleimon at 1am to file a sue, as a last chance for an official search for the attackers to be made. Imam denoted that he tried twice to file a sue, but Police officers denied by saying "we have no time now, come another time.".
Police officers have arrested the victims and it is quite sure they will try to deport them. As the Movement "United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat" reports, it is a common practice of the Greek Police to deport witnesses. Thus the case will never take the path to justice and perpetrators will never get charged.
Racist attack to Pakistani workers
On Sunday, September 30 at 4pm at Eleusina area a group of Greek men attacked on two Pakistani immigrants who were riding a motorbike. One of the attackers who was driving a car approached the motorbike of the migrants and without reason started swearing by shouting " go to your country." . The attacker forced the migrants to stop at a point where four others appeared. The driver of the car got out and hit one of the migrants (Hussein Abas , 34yo) with a knuckle duster on his head. Hussein Abas is in the hospital . Two of the attackers were brought to the Police station of Elefsina.
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Latest updates for this story can be found on the following report:
"The Imam of the Pakistani community leads Friday prayers in Athens"
http://www.demotix.com/node/1505359/



For licensing images of this story, contact me by clicking here, or follow the link:
- http://www.demotix.com/node/1490557/



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Visitors enjoy late Summer sun at Rethymno on Crete

Temperatures peaked again at 30 Celsius, as holiday-makers and residents enjoyed the warm late summer weather in the seaside resort of Rethymno on the island of Crete.





Swimmers on the beach of Rethymnon as they enjoy the late summer warm weather.

Picturesque Venetian harbour in Rethymno during night.

The Venetian lighthouse of Rethymnon during night.

The reflection on the sea of the buildings of the Venetian harbour.

Venetian harbour in Rethymno in the morning while the boat of the fishermen departure for fishing.

Rethymno city view in cloudy weather as of last Sunday until Tuesday noon.

Landscape view of the Venetian harbour in Rethymno on the island of Crete.

Swimmers on the beach of Rethymnon.

Temperatures peaked again at 30 Celsius, as holiday-makers and residents enjoyed the warm late summer weather in the seaside resort of Rethymno on the island of Crete.






For licensing images of this story, contact me or follow this link:
http://www.demotix.com/node/1461714





Monday, September 17, 2012

The untold story of a racist attack to an Afghan refugee in Athens


Reza Mohammad is a refugee from Afghanistan living and working in Athens since 2004. On July 30, 2012 he was attacked in the street by three young men holding bricks who hit him and wounded him in the head. Images taken August-September 2012.






Reza Mohammad in his home, twenty days after the attack, holding the public hospital's diagnosis prescription.

Reza Mohammad in his home, twenty days after the attack, holding the public hospital's diagnosis prescription.

Reza Mohammad while having breakfast in his home, twenty days after the attack.

Reza Mohammad in his home, twenty days after the attack.

Reza Mohammad observing Greek sculpture in Athens center. He has worked as marble sculptor in his home country.

Reza Mohammad on a walk in Athens center in front of a graffiti that images a rich man.

Reza Mohammad observing Greek sculpture in Athens center. He has worked as marble sculptor in his home country.

Reza Mohammad on an internet cafe in Athens center.

Reza Mohammad on a night walk in Athens.

Reza Mohammad on a night walk in Athens.

Reza Mohammad on a night walk in Athens.

Reza Mohammad on a night walk in Athens.

Reza Mohammad on a night walk in Athens.

Reza Mohammad as seen wounded on the day that he was attacked.

Reza Mohammad as seen wounded on the day that he was attacked.

Reza Mohammad as seen wounded on the day that he was attacked. Close up of the wound on his head.

Reza Mohammad in his home, twenty days after the attack, holding the public hospital's diagnosis- prescription.

Reza Mohammad is a refugee from Afghanistan living and working in Athens since 2004. On July 30, 2012 he was attacked in the street by three young men holding bricks who hit him and wounded him in the head.
Reza Mohammad was born in the city Gazny in Malistan area of Afghanistan, 32 years ago.
His father and mother were teachers and were killed during an attack to the school by Talibans 15 years ago.
In 2004 we came to Greece shortly after the Olympic Games.
He stayed for three months in the immigration detention center of Komotini and after he came to Athens.
He found a job after one year in construction industry.
In Afghanistan he worked as sculptor.
He was making sculptures of marble which were exported to India and China.
Because he liked sculpture, he tried to find a similar work in Greece too, but he did not succeed.
In his spare time he likes reading poetry, literature and the Koran. He has however been to big music clubs where he has heard live, famous Greek pop singers like Pegy Zina and Kalomoira.
A friend of Reza helped him and found a job in traditional Greek grills , a souvlaki shop, where he works for the last five years.
Usually he finishes work around 11p.m. and he goes home walking for about 30 minutes, from Peristeri area to Ilion where he lives. So on the 30th of Jyly 2012, he was walking going home after work.
In a narrow street close to the school in Peristeri, a young man passed him and soon after he sat in a bus stop and called on his cell phone.
When Reza turned the corner, he was attacked by two men holding bricks who started hitting him in the head with the bricks. But he also felt that he had been hit and a third person too, from behind.
Reza fell in the street unconscious and woke up later blooded in an ambulance that took him to hospital.
After he was discharged from the hospital, he did not file any suit against unknown perpetrators. H also did not go to the police as he feared he would get into more trouble and they would not arrest the perpetrators.
From what he knows, the police behavior towards immigrants in such cases is very aggressive, and do not help them to find the culprit.
After this, his life has changed: He is afraid to go home on foot at night after work, but he also cannot afford to take a taxi, as there are no buses. He a also afraid that he will be attacked when he stays in his home.
Sometimes has happened that some Greeks swear at him for no reason on the street: “Why don’t you leave Greece stinker?” an elderly man one day shouted at him. One day that he was feeding the pigeons in the street a woman accused him by starting shouting at him, that he was trying to poison them.
Those people do not allow Reza to have a normal life.
Reza believes that those who attack with no reason to the immigrants, are the successors of those who killed Jews in Germany during World War 2.



For licensing images of this story, contact me or follow this link:
http://www.demotix.com/node/1454974




Friday, September 14, 2012

Protest march against racist attacks in Agioi Anargyroi area of Athens



A protest march of about 500 Pakistani immigrants and Greek supporters who protested against racist attacks was held in the evening in Agioi Anargyroi area of Athens. September 14th, 2012.


Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Javied Aslam,who is the President of the Pakistan Community in Greece and the President of Migrant Workers Union, while talking to the protestors.

Signs of severe burns in Navid's Navaz body, twenty days after the attack.

Signs of severe burns in Navid's Navaz body, twenty days after the attack.

Signs of severe burns in Navid's Navaz body, twenty days after the attack.

Navid Nazaz today, twenty days after the attack, at the place where the attack took place, the courtyard of the Greek traditional home.

Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Javied Aslam,who is the President of the Pakistan Community in Greece and the President of Migrant Workers Union, while talking to the protestors.

Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Protesters marching on the streets of Agioi Anargyroi.

Kid with his father taking part at the protest.

Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Protesters marching on the streets of Agioi Anargyroi.

Protestors holding banners gathered in Agioi Anargyroi Square. "Neo-Nazis out! Workers United, shall never be defeated" banners read.

Protesters marching on narrow streets of Agioi Anargyroi where racist attacks have taken place.

Pakistani man dressed in traditionally, seen while taking pictures of the protest march.

An elderly woman seen while watching the protest march.

A woman seen while verbally attacking the protesters and complaining that the police do not protect her from immigrants.

Riot Police while following the protest march.

A protest march of about 500 Pakistani immigrants and Greek supporters, who protested against racist attacks and Police sweep operations, was held in the evening in Agioi Anargyroi area of Athens.

As previously reported on the story:
"Petrol bomb attack against Pakistani migrants in Athens"
http://www.demotix.com/node/1413682/
at dawn on Sunday August 25, 2012, a group of youths petrol bombed Pakistani immigrants while they slept in the area of Agioi Anargyroi. One Pakistani named Navid Navaz, was hospitalized with severe burns.

Today, 20 days after the attack, I met Navid Navaz at his home.
Navid says that he still cannot understand the reason he was attacked as he is a quiet and moderate person.
He has been staying in Greece for eighteen years now, has filed his papers for Greek citizenship and has rights to vote in municipal elections.
Through the years, he has gone to school for learning the Greek language and has received a certificate of language skills.

After the attack his life has changed: He does not go out because he is afraid of being attacked. Even when he stays at home he is afraid of a new attack.

Police told him that they have not discovered any of the perpetrators yet.

Because of the attack he was hospitalized from August 25th until September 3rd.

The rally was potential.
Protest march started from the main square of Agioi Anargyroi and passed by the streets where several racist attacks have happened.
At a moment a woman verbally attacked the protesters and complained that the police do not protect her from immigrants.
The Riot Police followed the march which ended peacefully.


For licensing images of this story, contact me by clicking here, or follow the link:
- http://www.demotix.com/node/1448738/