News

Anniversary of Unarmed Teenager’s Death by Police Officer Brings Renewed Violent Protests in Athens

December 6, 2014

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ATHENS, Greece – Protests in Athens have erupted into violent clashes with police today on the anniversary of an unarmed teenager being killed by a police officer.

Petrol bombs erupt in Athens as protesters clash with riot police. (Photo courtesy of BBC)

On December 6, 2008, 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos was shot and killed in Athens. Grigoropoulos and a friend were arguing with two police officers and one officer went back to his patrol car to get a gun, then returned and shot Grigoropoulos dead. Violent protests lasted for two weeks following the killing. Epaminondas Korkoneas, the police officer who killed Grigoropoulos, is serving a life sentence for the murder. Vasilis Saraliotis, the other police officer involved in the incident, is serving a 10 year sentence for accessory to murder.

Now, nearly 6,000 people are protesting in Athens again to mark the anniversary, and around 18,500 police officers are ready for the protests. Marches turned violent as protesters broke into a clothing store and stole clothes to burn in the street. The neighborhoods of Exarchia and Thessaloniki have held most of the fighting, with police firing tear gas and pepper spray. Over 200 protesters have been arrested, and so far no casualties have been reported. Fighting and protests appear to be going strong into the night.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is going to meet with the parents of Nikos Romanos, a friend of Grigoropoulos who was present for his killing. Followers of Romanos have been some of the leaders of current protests, as Romanos is currently being hospitalized due to a hunger strike that has lasted nearly a month, and he was imprisoned anyways due to participation in a bank robbery including a hostage early last year.

For more information, please see:

Huffington Post – Violent Protests Mark Anniversary of Police Killing in Greece – 6 December 2014

BBC – Clashes at Greek Protests to Mark Police Shooting – 6 December 2014

ABC News – Protests in Greece on Police Shooting Anniversary – 6 December 2014

The Telegraph – Violence Erupts in Greece – 6 December 2014

Greek Reporter – Alexandros Grigoropoulos: The Killing that Shook Greece – 6 December 2014

Pope Francis travels to Turkey to address xenophobia, the persecution of Christians, and Eastern and Western Reunification

November 30, 2014

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Middle East

Istanbul, Turkey–

As the situation in the Middle East becomes ever more dire, Pope Francis traveled to Turkey to discuss Isil, refugees, Christian expulsion, Islamiphobia, and the reunification of the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

In a display of humility, mutual respect, and the understanding of the grave situation of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, many of whom are Christians, Bartholomew I, Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, and Pope Francis, jointly condemned the violence that has escalated in the Middle East. The Middle East has traditionally been home to Christians since the birth of the religion more than 2,000 years ago. In recent decades, renewed persecution of Christians has forced many to leave their homes and settle in Western countries. For example, just since 2003, the Christian population in Iraq has fallen by 70%.

Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee as Isil tightens its grip on the region. Remaining in Syria and Iraq means risking likely death and persecution for religious beliefs. Fleeing offers refugees not only a chance for survival, but a chance to continue to practice their religious faith. Jordan and Turkey have become refuges for those escaping the fundamental Sunni Islam imposed under Isil. But the burden of so many refugees will begin to weigh more heavily on those countries hosting them, which is likely to exacerbate issues in an already relatively unstable Middle East.

Pope Francis addressed the issue of fundamentalism, the primary reason religious minorities have been forced to flee their homes, during his trip to Turkey. He called for an end to fundamentalism and its devastating effects that take a serious toll on the lives it touches. Now, Pope Francis asserted, more than ever is the time for interfaith dialogue, respect, and friendship. He also urged that military intervention is not the way to end fundamentalism and extremism; rather, addressing the needs of the impoverished and starving is the most viable way to end fundamentalism. Pope Francis urged that addressing the needs of those most in need is not simply applicable to the Middle East, but to the world as a whole.

The joint efforts by the Bartholomew I and Pope Francis suggest a desire to establish closer ties between the Eastern and Western wings of Christianity. These efforts, as well as closer ties between the two churches, may enable Christian leaders to better handle the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, particularly under Isil.

For more information, please visit:

The Telegraph- Pope and Patriarch condemn expulsion of Christians from the Middle East- 30 Nov, 2014

The Guardian- Pope and Patriarch condemn Middle East persecution of Christians– 30 Nov, 2014

Reuters- Pope condemns ‘barbaric violence’ of Islamic State– 28 Nov, 2014

Deutsche Welle- Pope Francis raises alarm over Middle East conflict in Turkey Visit- 28 Nov, 2014

Life imprisonment for homosexuals in The Gambia

November 30, 2014

By Ashley Rep

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Banjul, The Gambia-

The Gambia, a small, landlocked country in Africa, has long had some of the strictest anti-gay laws on the books. This fall though, the already oppressive laws that loom over the gay community in The Gambia, worsened. A new law, signed by President Yahya Jammeh, provides that ‘aggravated homosexuality,’ is now an offense that carries a sentence of life imprisonment.

Senegal Gays In Exile — Alhaji, 21 (last name withheld), fled to Senegal to escape persecution (photo courtesy of Huffington Post)

The law is targeted at repeat offenders and those who are suspected of being homosexuals and have HIV/AIDS. The language of the law is vague and broad, which compounds the problem of the law’s already expansive reach and devastating effect. In addition to repeat offenders and HIV/AIDS positive individuals suspected of homosexuality, the term ‘aggravated homosexuality,’ appears to also apply to those who are suspected of engaging sexually with a minor, as well as those who are suspected of homosexuality and have a minor in their care. The homosexual community in The Gambia already lives in fear of hate crimes, exclusion, and punishment for their sexual orientation, but with this law now in effect, there is life imprisonment to worry about.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the new law and the treatment of homosexuals in The Gambia generally, contending that this law exacerbates the oppression the community faces. President Barak Obama has called the law ‘odious,’ and urged President Jammeh to reassess these actions taken against homosexuals. No level of urging seems to sway President Jammeh, an autocratic ruler, who, just this past February, publicly announced “We will fight these vermins called homosexuals or gays the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes, if not more aggressively” and in 2008 suggested that all homosexuals should leave the country or risk being beheaded.

Since November 7, state forces have stepped up efforts to crack down on homosexuality. Many individuals have been detained for questioning, and report having been threatened with a device to be inserted into the anus or vagina to determine sexuality. Torture is also a concern of rights groups, as many of the suspected are detained for extended periods of time. The state is also reportedly compiling a list of names for future questioning and detention.

The language of the new law almost exactly mirrors the anti-gay laws enacted in Uganda this past year, another extremely oppressive country in Africa for homosexuals and those suspected of homosexuality. The laws in Uganda were widely criticized, and were overturned on a technicality.

For more information, please visit:

BBC News- Gambia’s President Jammeh asked to reject anti-gay law– 10 Sept, 2014

The Guardian- The Gambia passes bill imposing life sentences for some homosexual acts– 8 Sept, 2014

Amnesty International- Gambia’s latest anti-gay bill– 18 Nov, 2014

Huffington Post- Gambia passes anti-gay bill imposing life imprisonment for some same-sex acts– 8 Sept, 2014

Southern Europe Still Struggles with How to Handle Syrian Refugees

November 24, 2014

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

ATHENS, Greece – Over 200 Syrian refugees in Greece have had enough of the lack of rights given to refugees, and so a hunger strike has begun in the capital. Overcrowding of refugees in Greece, as well as in other nations, has led to decreases in space and care for refugees, leading many of them to struggle in Europe.

Syrian refugees in Athens take part in a hunger strike, demanding more aid and benefits to Syrian refugees coming into Greece. (Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal)

The number of Syrian refugees has recently skyrocketed in Greece. In 2013, Greece saw 8,500 Syrian refugees, while just 10 months into 2014 there has already been around 29,000 refugees from Syria. Overall, roughly 165,000 Syrian refugees have come into Europe since the start of the Syrian war.

An EU regulation, “Dublin II”, requires refugees to apply for asylum in the EU country they first “step foot in”. This prevents Syrian refugees from applying for asylum in harder to reach countries like Germany that would grant more rights along with asylum. Instead, the refugees must settle for nations like Greece, Albania, or Bulgaria that offer less rights to refugees.

The issue is certainly pressing as more and more Syrian refugees attempt to make their way into southern Europe. One such country that has seen its fair share of refugees is Italy, which began rescuing refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea earlier this year after one tragedy led Pope Francis to ask Italy to intervene. These sea missions are still very recent, with another 270 Syrian refugees being rescued today off the North Cypriot coast. The High Refugee Commission has stated that over 2,500 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea already this year while trying to cross into Europe.

Another big problem facing the Syrian refugees in Europe is the lack of jobs in the easier to reach countries like Greece. The economies in these nations are struggling even with their own citizens, and their own citizens seem to be taking priority in the eyes of locals and the governments. So Syrian refugees are left with a tough decision: apply for asylum in the first nation they can make it to and try to make due with the little out there and the few rights given, or attempt to make it to a country like Germany that has more to offer, but risk the consequences of getting caught along the way by another nation, like Albania, that has shot at Syrian refugees trying to cross the border.

For more information, please see:

The Wall Street Journal – Syrian Refugees in Greece Launch Hunger Strike for Asylum, Aid – 24 November 2014

Irish Times – Syrian refugees seek fresh start from Greek destitution – 24 November 2014

Middle East Monitor – 270 Syrian refugees rescued off North Cypriot coast – 24 November 2014

Global Post – For Syrian refugees fleeing to Europe, Bulgaria isn’t enough – 18 November 2014

BBC – Syria’s refugees yearning for the lost ‘old life’ – 17 November 2014

Bangladesh: Continuous Death Sentences for Islamist Leaders for War Crimes

November 24, 2014

By Hojin Choi

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – A controversial war crimes court in Bangladesh upheld its rigorous rulings on the nation’s war crimes cases originating from the country’s 1971 breakaway from Pakistan. The court was set up as a special war crimes tribunal in 2010 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Within the last few weeks, three Islamist Party leaders were sentenced to death.

The top leader of Bangladesh’s largest Islamist Party, Motiur Rahman Nizami, was sentenced to death last month, and few days later another high official of the party Mir Quasem Ali was sentenced to death. In early November, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, the Assistant Secretary-General of the party, was sentenced to death for conviction of genocide and torture of civilians in 1971.

The incident at issue in 1971 was a civil war that the West and East Pakistan armies fought for the autonomy and independence of East Pakistanis. East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh in December 1971. During the nine months of civil war, over 10 million people fled to a neighboring country, India. According to the government, three million people died and 200,000 women were raped during the incident.

Since 2010, the court has convicted 12 people for the war crimes. Most of them were senior officials of the Islamist Party. Last year, Bangladesh people in support of the party had massive protests where tens of thousands protesters clashed with police. Reportedly, over 500 people died in the protests. The recent convictions of party leaders seem to be bringing more social unrest. After the decisions, party supporters called a nationwide strike. No violence or casualties were yet seen, but many schools and businesses closed with worry of possible dangers.

Mir Quashem Ali after being sentenced to death (AP)

According to an Al Jazeera, “under Bangladesh jail code, the execution of an accused could be carried out within 21 days and before 28 days of the Supreme Court’s latest upholding of a death sentence.” Defendants’ review petitions only “buy a little more time, or hope for presidential clemency, which is unlikely to be granted under the present government.” The government argues that it should keep running the tribunal to rebuild social justice systems in Bangladesh by punishing the war criminals, but people, especially party supporters, suspect that the government is using the power to oppress the opposition party.

Human rights groups also called for attention to the continuous death sentences in Bangladesh. Human Rights Watch showed deep concern regarding the use of the death penalty and its quick process. According to the organization’s report, Kamaruzzamn was transferred to Dhaka Central Jail, which is a signal of his impending execution, even though he has not received the full text of the final verdict, which is necessary to file a petition for review. The group also argued that several cases, including the most recent cases, did not meet the fair trial standards because they did not fully grant defendants’ rights. It also pointed out that the past executions of the death penalty, such as hanging, after alleged unfair trials were against international law.

Brad Adams, the Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, said that “Human Rights Watch has long supported justice and accountability for the horrific crimes that occurred in 1971, but we have also stated repeatedly that these trials must meet international fair trial standards in order to properly deliver on those promises for the victims.” Adams added that “delivering justice requires adhering to the highest standards, particularly when a life is at stake. The death penalty is irreversible and cruel, and Bangladesh needs to get rid of it once and for all.”

For more information please see:

ALJAZEERA – Bangladesh party official faces death penalty – 3 November 2014

BBC – Death for Bangladesh Islamist leader Mir Quasem Ali – 2 November 2014

The Guardian – Islamist party member in Bangladesh sentenced to death for 1971 war crimes – 2 November 2014

Human Rights Watch – Bangladesh: Halt Execution of War Crimes Accused – 9 November 2014