The US Embassy in Athens updated its travel advice on Nov. 16 for American citizens visiting Greek cities, warning them to beware of the possibility of “unprovoked harassment and violent attacks” against people who could be mistaken for foreign migrants.
In a security message, the embassy said the State Department’s travel section had been “updated to inform US citizens of a rise in unprovoked harassment and violent attacks against persons who, because of their complexion, are perceived to be foreign migrants. US citizens most at risk are those of African, Asian, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern descent in Athens and other major cities.”
The travel advice on Greece also said the embassy “has confirmed reports of US African-American citizens detained by police authorities conducting sweeps for illegal immigrants in Athens.” The warning came the day before Greeks commemorate the Nov. 17 anniversary of the 1973 uprising by students against the U.S.-backed military junta in which protest marches end in front of the American Embassy and have provoked violence in the past. Similar warnings are issued annually in Greece as a matter of form as the Nov. 17 anniversary nears.
Tourism is a major source of revenue in Greece, and the country is sensitive to any travel advice that might affect visitors. The country is struggling through a deep financial crisis that has left one in four Greeks out of work and the country facing a sixth year of a recession.
“Greece was and remains a safe country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said in a statement. “The isolated incidents of racist violence which have occurred are foreign to Greeks, our civilization and the long tradition of Greek hospitality.” Delavekouras stressed that the government was “following a zero tolerance policy” against such incidents “and is taking all the necessary measures for the prevention and suppression of such behavior, which we condemn.”
Despite his comments, NGO’s said they have catalogued a sharp increase in attacks against immigrants which some critics blame on the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party that has 18 seats in Parliament and has a vociferous anti-immigrant stance. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is also moving against immigants, seeking repeal of a law which grants citizenship to second-generation immigrants who were born in Greece, speak Greece and have attended Greek school.
Before he was elected on June 17, Samaras said he wanted all illegal immigrants out of Greece and he has not denounced attacks on them, leading some critics to say he has given implicit backing to prejudice against foreigners.
See the message here and here
(source: AP)
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