The German magazine Der Spiegel is linking racism and violent incidents in Greece to the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn part which has been accused of beating immigrants, a charge it has repeatedly denied.
“The deeper the crisis is, the more rigid are the austerity measures imposed by the European creditors, and the worse the climate of terror on the streets becomes. There have been many attacks against foreigners, homosexuals and leftists. Some of them have even been killed. In some areas of Athens the foreigners and minorities do not dare go out in when night falls. Journalists and MPs scathed the phenomenon are being threatened or beaten,” Der Spiegel cites.
Referring to the rising popularity of the extremists, the magazine noted that, “Nowhere else in Europe neo-Nazis and right-wingers do not benefit from the economic crisis as happens in Athens.”
It added: “Although in the past, the statements of the head of Golden Dawn Nikos Michaloliakos were derided, now his party and its followers make their actions to be considered as a serious situation in the streets of Athens. Golden Dawn members and followers gathered in small groups on foot or on motorcycles, attack foreigners and leftists thrashing them wildly, using bludgeons, knives, and guns.
“Organizations for the protection of human rights, together with the High Commissioner for Refugees condemn the attacks as “systematic, organized and with racial motivations” the magazine said, adding that the situation is getting worse.
“Eyewitnesses speak of an open synergy (with police),” the article added. “Police no longer an independent mechanism” New Democracy MP, Dimitris Kyriazidis said. He served as a police officer and co-founder of the Officers Guild.
He said that, “The leadership of the Golden Dawn is disturbed by the accusations against the party and feels empowered by party’s rise in the polls.”
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