Saturday, February 14, 2015

Greece to shut migrant detention centres after inmate suicide

It is the first time that the cameras are allowed to enter the  inaccessible Amygdaleza immigrant detention center in western Athens area: Containers, gravel and human souls crying for freedom on the barbed wire.
Watch the Public Order Minister Yannis Panousis as he walks among minors and adult immigrants, who have climbed to the wires and cry for their freedom, in a place that could be conceived and constructed only by a morbid mind.
Minister pledged in a statement that the new government will keep the electoral promise and will close Amygdaleza, and requested time.
A few hours ago, on the previous evening (February 13, 2015) at Amygdaleza, one unlucky Pakistani immigrant, Nadim Mohammed, hanged himself from the bars of his bed. They found him dead four hours later. He was said to have been married with children and had just moved in Amygdaleza from Crete where he was detained previously.
Shortly before, on Tuesday, February 10, another prisoner of Amygdaleza died, the 23 year old Sayed Mehdi Akbari from Afghanistan. The diagnosis said he was suffering from AIDS and hepatitis C. He died very quickly and doctors said that the competent authorities have been slow to carry him to the hospital, "so doctors could no longer do anything."
Athens, Greece, 14 February 2015.

Video: Κραυγή για την Eλευθερία - Cry for Freedom

 Η πρώτη φορά που μπαίνει κάμερα στο άβατο της Αμυγδαλέζας: Κοντέινερ, χαλίκια και ανθρώπινες ψυχές πάνω στα συρματοπλέγματα.
Παρακολουθήστε τον Υπουργό Δημόσιας Τάξης Γιάννη Πανούση να προχωρά ανάμεσα στους μετανάστες ενήλικους και ανήλικους, που έχουν σκαρφαλώσει στα σύρματα και φωνάζουν για την λευτεριά τους, σε ένα χώρο που μόνο κάποιος νοσηρός νους έχει συλλάβει και κατασκευάσει.
Ο Υπουργός δεσμεύτηκε με δήλωσή του ότι η νέα κυβέρνηση θα κρατήσει την προεκλογική της δέσμευση και θα κλείσει την Αμυγδαλέζα, και ζήτησε χρόνο.
Το αμέσως προηγούμενο βράδυ (13 Φεβρουαρίου 2015) στην Αμυγδαλέζα, ένας άτυχος Πακιστανός μετανάστης, ο Ναντίμ Μοχάμεντ, κρεμάστηκε από τα κάγκελα του κρεβατιού του. Τον βρήκαν νεκρό 4 ώρες μετά. Ήταν παντρεμένος με παιδιά και είχε μόλις μεταφερθεί στην Αμυγδαλέζα από την Κρήτη όπου κρατείτο προηγουμένως.
Λίγο πριν, την Τρίτη 10 Φεβρουαρίου, πέθανε ένας ακόμη κρατούμενος στην Αμυγδαλέζα, ο 23χρονος Σαγιέντ Μεχντί Αχμπαρί από το Αφγανιστάν. Η διάγνωση ανέφερε πως έπασχε από AIDS και ηπατίτιδα C σε προχωρημένο στάδιο. Πέθανε πολύ γρήγορα και η διαπίστωση των γιατρών ήταν πως οι αρμόδιες αρχές καθυστέρησαν να τον μεταφέρουν σε νοσοκομείο, «τόσο που δεν μπορούσε πια να γίνει κάτι».
Αμυγδαλέζα, 14 Φεβρουαρίου 2015.

Photo Reportage:

Immigrants protest behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area.
Immigrants protest behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area.
"Body search" is written in marker outside a room. Immigrant detainees denounce horrible detention conditions.
Immigrants stand behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area.
Immigrant minors protest behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area.
An empty jacket looks like it wants to escape. Immigrant clothes are spread out to dry on barbed wire.
Immigrants stand behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area.
Immigrants protest behind a fence during minister's visit, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening, at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area. Message on a paper reads: "Freedom! We die here".
Τhe squalid room that the Pakistani detainee allegedly committed suicide in Amygdaleza immigrant detention camp. The detainee who committed suicide was said to have been married with children.
Detainees of the Anygdaleza migrant detention camp stand at the point where they found dead the Pakistani immigrant who committed suicide.
At a sector further than the area that the politicians visited today in Amygdaleza, the detainees raised a message written on sheets: They denounce rape by an official.
Immigrants protest behind a fence where they remain detained at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area. Sign reads that the construction of this concentration camp was co-financed by EU.
Immigrants protest behind a fence where they remain detained at Amygdaleza detention center in western Athens area, following the suicide of an inmate on the previous evening.



Related article in German language:
Spiegel PANORAMA: "Flüchtlinge: Griechenland will Unterkünfte schließen"












Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Massive anti-austerity rally in Athens against the EU-austerity policy

Thousand of people gathered in central Athens to protest against the EU-austerity policy, to denounce what they call ""European blackmail." The rally was organized in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders, while EU Finance ministers of the Eurogroup are meeting for a discussion of the Greek situation, in Brussels, Belgium, the same day.
Athens, Greece, 11 February 2015.


Μεγαλειώδες παλλαϊκό συλλαλητήριο κατά της λιτότητας με συμμετοχή που άγγιξε τις 30 χιλιάδες πολίτης πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Πλατεία Συντάγματος της Αθήνα. Όπως χαρακτηριστικά αναφέρουν οι διοργανωτές μέσω facebook με τίτλο: "Ανάσα Αξιοπρέπειας σε όλη την Ελλάδα:  Δεν εκβιαζόμαστε, ούτε βήμα πίσω στους εκβιασμούς! "
Αθήνα 11 Φεβρουαρίου 2015.


Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders.
Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders.
Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders.
Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders.
Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders.
Protesters gather outside parliament in Athens as they take part in a rally in solidarity with the Greek government for their negotiations with the country's international lenders. n
A Greek priest shouts slogans outside the parliament during the rally in solidarity with the Greek government for the negotiations with the country's international lenders, in Athens, Greece, 11 February 2015.
A protester holds a banner outside the parliament during the rally in solidarity with the Greek government for the negotiations with the country's international lenders, in Athens, Greece, 11 February 2015.
A huge banner in front of the Greek parliament reads: "Frau Merkel tell us about Siemens Thyssen - Hochtief - Ferrostaal etc. etc. Then we'll talk about "how corrupted Greeks are" as crowds gather at rally in support of the Greek government.
A pun is written on a banner during the rally, in relation to the names ogf the Greek finance Minister Varoufakis and Angela Merkel's policy stated as "Merkelism".






Monday, January 26, 2015

Syriza supporters in Athens celebrate historic win

Athens, Greece, 25 and 26 January 2015.
 Supporters of the radical left party SYRIZA celebrated throughout the night in Athens after leader Alexis Tsipras addressed crowds following the announcement of their victory in the Greek Parliamentary elections.
A historic night for Greece and Europe: Left win election for the first time in Greece, and it is also the first electoral victory for an anti-austerity party in the eurozone since the start of the crisis in 2008.

Young supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
Young supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
Supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
Leader Alexis Tsipras addresses crowd after the results are announced in Athens. A historic night for Greece and Europe.
Leader Alexis Tsipras addresses crowd after the results are announced in Athens. A historic night for Greece and Europe.
Leader Alexis Tsipras addresses crowd after the results are announced in Athens. A historic night for Greece and Europe.
A poster with the slogan "Troika, IMF, EU, ECB, Keep Calm and go to Hell" is seen during celebrations by supporters of left-wing Syriza party at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
A poster with the slogan ""Good Night Ms. Merkel" (Das ist eine wirklich GUTE NACHT Frau Merkel) " is seen during the celebrations near the election kiosk in Athens center.
Italian supporters of left-wing Syriza Greek party unfurl during the celebrations a large red banner with the slogan: "A different Europe with Tsipras" ("L'Altra Europa con Tsipras") .
Young female supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main election kiosk in Athens.
Young supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
Young supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.
Young supporters of left-wing Syriza party react and celebrate as they watch the results at the main Greek election kiosk in Athens.




Thursday, January 22, 2015

Tsipras addresses huge crowd ahead of election in Greece

Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras addresses huge crowd in Athens during the final rally before the Greek election.
Athens, Greece, 22 January 2015.
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and Spanish Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias Turrión address huge crowd in Omonia square, central Athens.
Young woman waves Syriza flag and shouts slogans during the rally.
Syrian refugees hold placards during the rally claiming freedom of movement across Europe.
A man waves the Greek blue and white flag and another man waves a red flag with the slogan: "L' Altra Europa con Tsipras" (A different Europe with Tsipras) during the rally.
Syrian refugee kid holds placards during the rally claiming freedom of movement across Europe.
Syrian refugees hold placards during the rally claiming freedom of movement across Europe.
Thousands of Syriza supporters wave flags and shout slogans during the rally.
Supporters cheer Alexis Tsipras during the rally.
Supporters cheer Alexis Tsipras during the rally.
Supporters cheer Alexis Tsipras during the rally.
Supporters cheer Alexis Tsipras during the rally.
An LGBT rights activist waves a flag during the rally of SYRIZA.






Monday, January 12, 2015

PEGIDA massive anti-Islam protest raises tensions in Dresden

Dresden, Germany, 12 January 2015.
A record 25,000 people joined an anti-Islamic ,'Pegida' (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West) march in Dresden on Monday, while anti-Pegida activists staged a counter protest that turned into aggressive verbal exchange as protesters traded lewd hand signals. Counter protestors also staged a sit-in and blocked the way of PEGIDA march and were chased off by the police before the situation could escalate further.
Footage description:
00:12 PEGIDA participants attacked cameramen (and me personally) during the rally/
00:19 German anti-racists counter ‪the PEGIDA march in ‪Dresden‬ by staging a sit-in and blocking the street in front of police while shouting slogans.
02:37 Thousands of PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march in ‪Dresden. A placard depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel and bears the message "Frau Merkel hier ist das volk!" (Frau Merkel here are the people).
03:54 Pro and anti-PEGIDA activists turn into aggressive verbal exchange as protesters traded lewd hand signals.
04:30 PEGIDA demonstrator holds placards reading “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”), showing solidarity with those killed in the attack on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
03:44 French and German flags together at PEGIDA rally in Dresden.
04:38 Cyprus and German flags together at PEGIDA rally in Dresden.
05:07 The word "Die Linke" is blanked out on a banner and replaced by the word 'PEGIDA' as thousands of the Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West movement supporters march through Dresden.
05:13 Police officers detain anti-PEGIDA demonstrators after the rally.


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNvLkP41J0I


Εντάσεις στους δρόμους της  Δρέσδης από διαδηλωτές υπέρ και κατά του κινήματος PEGIDA.
Δρέσδη, Γερμανία, 12 Ιανουαρίου 2014.
Περισσότεροι από 25.000 υποστηρικτές του κινήματος Pegida («Ευρωπαίοι Πατριώτες ενάντια στον εξισλαμισμό της Δύσης») βγήκαν στους δρόμους της Δρέσδης την Δευτέρα ενώ ταυτόχρονα σε δυο σημεία της πόλης είχαν διοργανωθεί αντιδιαδηλώσεις από ακτιβιστές κατά της ξενοφοβίας, διαδηλώσεις  που μετατράπηκαν σε επιθετική λεκτική ανταλλαγή συνοδευόμενη από άσεμνες χειρονομίες. Ισχυρές αστυνομικές δυνάμεις απέτρεψαν κλιμάκωση απωθώντας τους αντιδιαδηλωτές, όταν μάλιστα ομάδα αυτών έκλεισε με καθιστική διαμαρτυρία τον δρόμο ώστε να μην περάσει η πορεία του κινήματος Pegida. Οι διαδηλώσεις ολοκληρώθηκαν με προσαγωγές  αντιδιαδηλωτών.
Χρονικά περιληπτική ανάλυση του βίντεο:
00:12 Υποστηρικτές του κινήματος PEGIDA επιτέθηκαν σε εικονολήπτες (και σε μένα  προσωπικά) κατά τη διάρκεια της πορείας τους.
00:19 Ακτιβιστές αντι-ρατσιστές αντιδιαδηλώνουν για την πορεία του PEGIDA στη Δρέσδη, οργανώνοντας καθιστική διαμαρτυρία και αποκλείοντας το δρόμο και φωνάζουν συνθήματα, ενώ ισχυρές αστυνομικές δυνάμεις τους έχουν περικυκλώσει.
2:37 Χιλιάδες υποστηρικτές του κινήματος Pegida («Ευρωπαίοι Πατριώτες ενάντια στον εξισλαμισμό της Δύσης») διαδηλώνουν  στη Δρέσδη. Ένα πλακάτ απεικονίζει τη Γερμανίδα Καγκελάριο Άνγκελα Μέρκελ φορώντας μαντίλα και φέρει το μήνυμα «Frau Merkel hier ist das Volk!" (Frau Merkel εδώ είναι ο λαός).
3:54 Ακτιβιστές υπέρ  και αντί του PEGIDA επιδίδονται  σε επιθετική λεκτική ανταλλαγή, καθώς  και σε άσεμνες χειρονομίες  υπό στενή αστυνομική παρακολούθηση.
4:30 Υποστηρικτής του κινήματος  PEGIDA («Ευρωπαίοι Πατριώτες ενάντια στον εξισλαμισμό της Δύσης») κρατά πλακάτ που γράφει «Je suis Charlie", δείχνοντας την αλληλεγγύη με αυτούς που σκοτώθηκαν κατά την επίθεση στην σατιρική εβδομαδιαία εφημερίδα Charlie Hebdo.
3:44 Γαλλικές και γερμανικές σημαίες μαζί στο PEGIDA συλλαλητήριο στη Δρέσδη.
4:38 Σημαίες της Κύπρου και της Γερμανίας μαζί στο συλλαλητήριο του  κινήματος  PEGIDA στη Δρέσδη.
5:07 Η λέξη «Die Linke» έχει σβηστεί με μαρκαδόρο σε ένα banner και έχει αντικατασταθεί από τη λέξη «PEGIDA» καθώς χιλιάδες  οπαδοί του κινήματος των «Ευρωπαίων Πατριωτών ενάντια στον εξισλαμισμό της Δύσης» κάνουν πορεία στη Δρέσδη. Επίσης έχει κολληθεί και ένα υβριστικό για το Ισλάμ στίκερ.
5:13 Οι αστυνομικοί συλλαμβάνουν δυο ακτιβιστές που διαδήλωναν ενάντια στο κίνημα PEGIDA.


Related story: TIME: German Police Investigate Murder of Eritrean Refugee in Dresden

Φωτογραφίες - Pictures :
Thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march in ‪Dresden. A placard depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel and bears the message "Frau Merkel hier ist das volk!" (Frau Merkel here are the people).
German anti-racists counter ‪a Pegida‬ march in ‪Dresden‬ by staging a sit-in and blocking the street in front of police while shouting the slogan: "say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here".
The word "Die Linke" is blanked out on a banner and replaced by the word 'PEGIDA' as thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march through Dresden.
The slogan "NO PEGIDA" is written on a wall as thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters prepare to march in ‪Dresden.
A man carries a placard that bears a slogan against Islamization as thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march in ‪Dresden.
A placard depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel and bears the message "Frau Merkel hier ist das volk!" (Frau Merkel here are the people) as thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march in Dresden.
A supporter of the Pegida movement carries a placard that reads a slogan against the procedure of granting political asylum.
A banner is carried as thousands of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West)‬ supporters march through ‪Dresden.
German anti-racists counter ‪a Pegida‬ march in ‪Dresden‬ by staging a sit-in and blocking the street in front of police while shouting the slogan: "say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here".
Supporters of the Pegida movement march in the streets of Dresden carrying banners and German flags.
Supporters of the Pegida movement march in the streets of Dresden carrying a flag of Cyprus in protest of the Islamization of the island.
Supporters of the Pegida movement march in the streets of Dresden carrying a banner against the Ukrainian euromaidan.