Excessive police violence, arbitrary arrests and allegations of torture in Greece
7.4.2021
Question for written answer E-001857/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stelios Kouloglou (The Left)
Countless incidents of excessive and unjustified police violence have been recorded with video cameras in recent days in Greece[1]. Dozens of citizens, even minors, were brought to police departments and deprived of their right to contact their lawyer or their parents, and their phones were confiscated. The incidents started when police brutally beat a citizen in a central square of Athens.
The detainees allege that they were tortured, while one of them says that he was abducted a day later, stating: ‘they tied my hands behind my back, put a hood over my head and pushed me in the car with punches and kicks'[2].
Given that:
Torture is prohibited under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Article 4 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights;
The right of access to a lawyer is provided by Article 3 of Directive 2013/48/EU;
Minors are entitled to special protection according to Directive 2013/48/EU;
Everyone who is arrested has to be informed by the authorities of the reasons for their arrest and of any charge against them, based on Article 5 of the ECHR;
Will the Commission request explanations from the Greek Government on these practices that are contrary to EU law?