Greek human rights protesters block deportations

Human rights activists on the Greek island of Lesvos last night successfully blocked the transfer of refugees held at the island’s  detention centre when they blockaded the ferry that was to take them to the Greek mainland for deportation. Protesters successfully prevented the transfer of 62 handcuffed immigrants last night despite the presence of dozens of police officers and port security officials.

Although Lesvos (also known as Mytilini) is better known as a tourist destination it has become part of Europe’s front line in the continent’s battle over immigration. With Turkey just a few hours away by sea, Lesvos is, along with other Greek islands in the area, a favoured choice for people smugglers transporting refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia and Palestine into the European Union.

Although local people have been quick to help those arriving on their shores, the response of the Greek state has been a mixture of indifference and denial. Reception centres set up in abandoned warehouses and schools surrounded by barbed wire have been routinely criticised by organisations such as UNHCR and Amnesty International for failing to provide even basic amenities.  

The Pagani reception centre on Lesvos which was created to hold 250 has had to accommodate over 1000 often without separate bathroom facilities for men and women. Often periods of detention last for over six months.

Greece has been routinely accused of failing to apply EU and other international laws concerning the treatment of immigrants and the granting of asylum to refugees. According to figures published by the Greek government less than 1% of applicant receive political asylum.

In addition recently courts in other European countries such as Norway and Germany have over ruled the EU’s Dublin II accord which requires immigrants be sent to the first port of call in Europe and stopped sending back people to Greece citing human rights abuses and the country’s unwillingness to process asylum claims.

The Committee for the Prevention of Torture in Europe's latest report also cited widespread incidents of violence and racism by Greece’s port and police authorities in their dealings with non - EU immigrants.