torture used by the government of Greece

[supercar]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006

United States Department of State

March 6, 2007

International organizations and human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) repeatedly alleged that illegal immigrants and refugees were subjected to violence by [Greek]border guards and coast guard officers when caught entering the country illegally. Violence also occurred as [Greek]coast guard officials tried to prevent illegal immigrants from leaving the country en route to other European Union (EU) countries.

The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) reported in December that the rights of persons in [Greek]police detention centers were not respected in practice and that there continued to be widespread use of violence against persons deprived of their liberty. The CPT delegation doctors found that persons who had alleged ill-treatment during interrogation or while in border guard stations were found to have injuries consistent with their allegations. NGOs expressed continuing concern over the mistreatment of individuals during arrest and detention and for the failure of judicial and administrative systems to deal promptly and effectively with cases of police misconduct.

By year's end no results had been released concerning the investigation of a case of two civilians who alleged in 2004 that police beat them in Pyrgos, Peloponnese, during a routine identity check. Similarly, no results had been announced regarding allegations that three armed forces officers abused and beat 10 illegal immigrants on an islet in the Aegean Sea in 2004. By year's end no date had been set for the trial of two police officers charged with subjecting a group of Afghan asylum seekers in 2004 to interrogation techniques that allegedly included torture.

In a letter to the Ministry of Public Order made public in January 2005, the deputy ombudsman for human rights noted numerous procedural and substantive shortcomings in the investigation concerning the alleged police torture in 2002 of Nigerian citizen Joseph Okeke and the alleged 2002 beating and torture of Yannis Papacostas in a police station near Athens. The deputy ombudsman called for police to re-evaluate their report on Okeke on the basis that the procedure suffered from gross errors concerning the evaluation and appraisal of the available evidence. At year's end an application based on this case was pending with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) alleging violation of the article in the European Convention on Human Rights that prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

In December 2005 the ECHR ordered the government to pay a fine of $13,100 (10,000 euros) to each of two Romani men for inhuman and degrading treatment by police in Mesolonghi in 1998; the government paid the fine during the year. In December 2004 the ECHR ordered the government to pay a fine of $19,650 (15,000 euros) for failing to carry out an effective investigation of a 1995 shooting incident in which police officers seriously injured an unarmed person; the government reportedly paid the fine during the year. Police were more likely to abuse Roma than other minority groups. Immigrants, including Albanians, also accused police of abuse.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78815.htm

[Fluffybunny]

So what was your point?

[Atheist God]

Wow they took a page right out of the US military play book.

Edited October 24, 2007 by AtheistGod

[Unlimited]

So what was your point?

torture is commonplace in our "new world"...scary I think bush set the precedence for all of it..

[Lt_Ripley]

The CPT delegation doctors found that persons who had alleged ill-treatment during interrogation

so the US can push for crimes !!!! oops bushco wouldn't want to do that - the pot calling the kettle black and all.

- oops ! rephrased

Edited October 24, 2007 by Lt_Ripley

[stevewinn]

Maybe the Greeks hardline treatment will stop Greece turning into the UK. because the UK is in a right mess because of left-wing do-gooders. says it all when illegal immigrants, backed by religious leaders and politicians, marched through London on Monday 7th May, calling for fairer treatment by the government and a chance to become "normal" citizens. if i'd of been in government i would have surrounded the march rounded them all up and deported the lot, after all they are illegal, good on Greece

[BrucePrime]

torture is commonplace in our "new world"...scary I think bush set the precedence for all of it..

Yes, torture never took place in the world before Bush came along.

What utter ignorance.

[Unlimited]

Yes, torture never took place in the world before Bush came along.

What utter ignorance.

when was it commonplace before the war on terror? in recent history?...why dont you save your snide remarks my lil man of steel...go join up your so gung ho...your a big man behind that screen..you know what the world needs more gwbush preemption...and brainwashed followers to root him on..

[ships-cat]

I'm all for strong border controlls, both at the border and in the courts. However, extrajudicial beatings and torture are not the answer.

Meow Purr.

[Ins0mniac]

Maybe the Greeks hardline treatment will stop Greece turning into the UK. because the UK is in a right mess because of left-wing do-gooders. says it all when illegal immigrants, backed by religious leaders and politicians, marched through London on Monday 7th May, calling for fairer treatment by the government and a chance to become "normal" citizens. if i'd of been in government i would have surrounded the march rounded them all up and deported the lot, after all they are illegal, good on Greece

I see your point. But I don't think torturing them is the answer.