On 11 March 2021, the Greek Police Force entered the administration building of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in order to end a two week student occupation. The occupation was an attempt to resist the education bill recently passed by the Greek parliament, establishing a university police force.
It is important to note that this action by the police came a few hours after the students themselves had already planned to voluntarily evacuate the building later that day. However, the police decided to terminate the occupation even earlier, by force. This act of aggression from the police came as no surprise, as a dramatic increase in protests of a similar nature has been met with severe police repression and brutality in recent months.
The Syriza opposition party, several professors, and academics expressed their concern ahead of the passing of this education law, as they fear that it may put the freedom and autonomy of Greek universities and their students at risk. However, on 11 February 2021, the Greek parliament passed the controversial law that establishes a university-specific and university-based police force that aims to combat crime within the campuses. According to the bill, a total of 1,000 unarmed officers are to be present at five of the largest universities in Greece, and will answer to the Greek Police Force.
STUDENT PROTEST MET WITH VIOLENCE
Since January 2021, thousands of students and academics have taken to the streets of several Greek cities in order to express and make clear their discontent regarding the new education bill. This bill was proposed and voted on during a time when university campuses were – and remain– closed, as they continue to work entirely remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic
During these protests, the students’ movement was met with severe police brutality and violence. The peak of this violence occurred when, on 22 February, police officers entered the rectory building of the Aristotle University in order to repress the occupation that had started earlier that morning by a large number of students.
In an attempt to evacuate the building, the police clashed with the protesters, using teargas and arresting several of them. Outside of the building, the repressive police action also reached extreme levels. Several police officers tortured a student who was resisting arrest in plain sight of various other citizens. Video evidence from the scene shows the man lying half-naked on the ground as the police officers drag him by his feet.
A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE
These images show that extreme police violence in Greece has intensified due to the restrictions imposed by the government in order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Several times in the past year, the Greek department of Amnesty International in Athens expressed its concern regarding police brutality in the country. In fact, a campaign was launched on 7 December 2020, calling for citizens to sign a petition demanding an end to injustice, mistreatment and abuse of citizens –whether or not they are protesters– at the hands of police officers.
Around the world, the problem of police repression and violence has intensified following the outbreak of the pandemic, and the restrictive measures enforced by most countries in response to it. Governments, through the excuse of securing public health, have tried to silence the voices of the people by prohibiting public gatherings and protests. Greece is no exception.
Ioanna is a translator and holds a Master's degree in Human Rights and Democratization. During her studies, she focused her research on indigenous issues and linguistic rights. She has a great interest in decolonization and human rights in the context of the Americas. She speaks five languages and has worked as an intern for the European Parliament and Amnesty International.