URGENT – Three Partizan Readers Detained in Athens
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report published by Yeni Demokrasi.
Three Partizan readers were detained in Athens, Greece. They were subjected to strip searches and torture.
Partizan and the Communist Party of Greece (Marxist-Leninist) [KKE (m-l)] issued a statement against the police repression against revolutionaries from Greece and Turkey.
The full statement is as follows:
Greek police have intensified their attacks targeting Greek and Turkish revolutionaries in recent years. These attacks, which involve the deprivation of rights, surveillance, detention, and arrest, are increasingly ongoing and are being organized jointly with the fascist Turkish State.
Both states are dependent on imperialism and owe their existence to the crumbs left over from imperialist plunder. Consequently, they are engaged in a reactionary struggle over who will get the greater share. The tensions between the two countries, reflected in public opinion, are based on the conflict of interests between the ruling classes of these two countries. However, when it comes to protecting and advancing the interests of imperialists, both reactionary States become candidates for being the outpost for imperialist powers. Similarly, when it comes to attacks on revolutionaries and communists, the two reactionary States can align themselves and jointly coordinate their attacks.
In both Turkey and Greece, attacks on the people and the deprivation of their rights are increasing, and living conditions are becoming increasingly difficult. The struggle against this is being suppressed through oppression and tyranny. The most important common denominator between the two reactionary states is their efforts to escalate attacks and exploitation against the people. Progressives, revolutionaries, and communists are at the center of these attacks.
In recent years, Greek police have carried out numerous unjustified attacks against Turkish revolutionaries and communists. These attacks are completely arbitrary, have no legal basis, aim to intimidate and oppress. The latest in this wave of attacks took place in Athens on September 2nd. A vehicle carrying Partizan activists was stopped without justification, searched repeatedly, and two Partizan activists were detained on the grounds that they were Turkish refugees.
Two Partizan activists were taken to the police station and subjected to strip-search torture. Another Partizan activist, who came to the station at the same time and tried to obtain information about the situation, was detained for protesting this torture. This comrade was subjected to similar attacks and was detained on charges of resisting the police. One of the detained Partizan activists was released on the evening of September 2nd, without even a detention report being prepared. Another Partizan activist remained in detention on the grounds of an Interpol search warrant issued at the request of the fascist Turkish State. The two Partizan activists, unlawfully detained on the night of September 2nd and taken to different police stations, were brought before the court the following day. Our comrade, who was brought to court on charges of resisting the police, was released pending trial due to the lack of an interpreter, and his trial was adjourned to a later date.
The Partizan activist, who had an Interpol warrant against him, was questioned again by the prosecutor’s office on September 3rd. Following his statement, a travel ban and judicial control restrictions were imposed on him, and he was released pending trial. However, the Greek police refused to release the Partizan activist in court, citing the reasoning that he had surrendered his belongings, and stated that he would be released at another location where his belongings were located. Consequently, the lawyers and our comrades present at the courthouse to observe the testimony went to the designated location. However, despite a release warrant, our comrade was abducted by another police unit. Despite this, a police unit called the “Security Unit” attempted to interrogate him at the police station. Our comrade, who stated that there was a release warrant on him, refused to be interrogated and refused to answer questions. Consequently, his belongings were handed over and he was released.
The attacks and oppression against our comrades will not intimidate us. While reactionary States join forces in their attacks against the people and their organized forces, we will join forces in our duty to advance the struggle for revolution and communism. Against these attacks, we will continue the struggle of the peoples of Greece and Turkey against all forms of reaction.
Long live Proletarian Internationalism!
Long live the Common Struggle of the Peoples of Turkey and Greece!
