Greece rights concern

Date: 27/06/02

By Khaled Diab

A COALITION of human rights groups from Europe and the Mediterranean has criticised Greece for its handling of detained asylum-seekers and called on the EU to help ensure that Athens complies with Union and international accords.

The 47 groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, expressed 'great concern about the frequent and grave violations of the rights of thousands of foreigners who arrive or live in Greece'. They called on Greece 'to radically revise their treatment of foreigners under arrest, detention, trial or deportation'.

Among the violations listed were failure to inform foreigners of their rights and trial without legal counsel. While welcoming recognition of the problem by the Council of Europe, the groups urged the EU and other intergovernmental organisations to exert more pressure on Athens. Although Greece's handling of refugees has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, other EU members have not emerged unscathed.

A coalition of human rights groups from Europe and the Mediterranean has criticised Greece for its handling of detained asylum-seekers and called on the EU to help ensure that Athens complies with European Union and international accords.