Greece: Police must protect refugees from ongoing far-right attack

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.”