Greece: Police must protect refugees from ongoing far-right attacks
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 18 November 2016 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Greece: Police must protect refugees from ongoing far-right attacks, 18 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5832cb2f4.html [accessed 2 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
As attacks by suspected far-right extremists against refugees in Souda camp on the Greek island of Chios continue for a third day Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Deputy Europe Director, said:
"These shocking attacks against refugees cannot be permitted to continue with impunity. For the last two nights, suspected right-wing extremists have thrown petrol bombs, stones and rocks down on the camp from castle walls, causing injuries and panic. At least one refugee was injured by a stone just this afternoon."
"Police and judicial authorities must not only take urgent measures to investigate these hate crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice but as a third night approaches, they must act to ensure the safety of the refugees on the island."
At a meeting on Chios 13 November, Parliamentarians from the far-right Golden Dawn party called for deportations.
As of Friday morning, no one attacking the camp, which is in a downtown area close to Chios port, has been arrested. An eyewitness told Amnesty International: "I do not know what will happen tonight. If another attack happens and the police is not present. We are very scared."
