5600 prisoners on hunger strike in Greece

Amidst the glam and glitter that go with the opening of any international event, the start of the Thessaloniki film festival was also marked by a march of between 500 and 1000 anarchist protesting conditions in Greece’s prison system. The demonstrations, which took place yesterday evening in most of the country’s major cities were aimed at bring public attention to the hunger strike taking place throughout country’s jails.

According to figures released by the Greek ministry of justice over 5600 of prisoners in jail are still either on hunger strike or refusing prison meals. Three Kurdish inmates in Trikaka, central Greece have also sewn their mouths shut in protest, according to some reports.

The prisoners’s action started on 3rd November in order to highlight a 16 - point list of demands which include the reduction of sentences, the ending of punitive disciplinary measures against inmates and improvements in basic hygiene and sanitation.

According to the Initiative for Prisoner Rights blog (www.keli.gr) the government’s response to the crisis and attempts at negotiation are “inadequate” and fail to address the protestors basic demands.

The site also said that the strike claimed its first victim when 32 year old Nicolas Badakis, a participating inmate in the Grevena prison in northern Greece was found dead in his cell on the 13th November. Badakis had originally been found unconscious in his cell and taken to the local hospital. Next day he was released from hospital care and return to jail where he died the following day.

The hunger strike has also put extra strain on the Greek prison health care system which has long been criticised as severly lacking in European Union reports. Last year the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) roundly condemned the Greek authorities for conditions in the nation’s penal system. Their 2007 report was scathing in its condemnation of the standards of health care in the system and the poor conditions in which many were held, often without proper health care facilities.

Much of the medical treatment such as the keeping of records and provision of medication is carried out by the prisoners themselves in Greek jails. In addition prisoners often do not have access to hot water or soap and in some cases are allowed just one toilet roll per month.

Earlier this year the Greek language newspaper, Eleutherotypia reported that on average in 2008 one person a week died in custody in Greece.

Greek minister for finance, Giorgos Alogoskoufis was pelted with eggs by protesters during a speech at the London School of Economics on 14th November. According to the Greek national daily, Ta Nea the protesters scattered leaflets and shouted slogans in support of hunger strikers. In addition there have been dozens of attacks with improvised incendiary devices against banks, political party offices, luxury car outlets and news vans throught Athens and Thessaloniki.

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Prisoners in Greek jails go on hunger strike

Prisoners in jails across Greece are set to begin a hunger strike from tomorrow in protest against conditions.Included in their demands are calls for a reduction in sentences, the provision of basic medical services and the greater access to inmates by human rights groups.

A list of 16 demands drawn up by the Initiative for Prisoner Rights (click here for their Greek language blog) was published on the group's blog on 30th October. The blog also mentioned that the coming protests had triggered a "climate of terror" and that there had been mass transfer of prisoners over the previous 24 hours.

Last year the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) roundly condemned the Greek authorities for turning a blind eye to the violent treatment of prisoners and suspects by prison and police officers (click here to see report) . They documented numerous cases of abuse, especially of inmates from minority groups being threatened with beatings, reprisals and even rape by law enforcement officials.

The report was also scathing it its condemnation of the standards of health care in the system and the poor conditions in which many were held. Often without proper health care facilities available much of the medical treatment such as the keeping of records and provision of medication is carried out by the prisoners themselves in Greek jails. In addition prisoners often do not have access to hot water or soap and in some cases are allowed just one toilet roll per month.

It should be noted that in the high security Korydellos men's prison, Athens, 2043 prisoner are housed in a facility designed to take 645 and that despite repeated assurances by the Greek government little has been done to provide any form of vocational, educational or cultural activity.

Indeed the delegation noted that little had been done to improve conditions overall since their last visit in 2005.

The CPT also reported that their work was impeded by constant surveillance by the Greek police and in the case of a suspect who died in police custody files on the case were snatched from the visiting delegate's hand by the station commmander at the Omonia police station in Athens.

Earlier this year the Greek language newspaper, Eleutherotypia reported that on average in 2008 one person a week died in custody in Greece.

The Greek government however, denied that there was systematic maltreatment of prisoner and said that every possibe attempt was being made to improve deficiences in the prison system in its official reply to the CPT report ( click here).

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Tags: Greece | World | prisons | Hunger Strike | cpt | European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment